2023 California Code › Insurance Code - INS › DIVISION 3 - THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER › CHAPTER 2 - Powers and Duties › ARTICLE 1 - Generally › Section 12928.7.

12928.7. (a) The commissioner may order a respondent to provide restitution for a loss arising from the respondent’s conduct. If the facts and equity permit, with a restitution order, the commissioner may issue an order of rescission enforceable on any person subject to the commissioner’s jurisdiction.
(b) A restitution order under this section shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The respondent shall be subject to the commissioner’s jurisdiction.
(2) The restitution order shall be ancillary to another proceeding authorized by this code in which the commissioner does both of the following:
(A) Determines the respondent violated this code or the standards of conduct applicable to persons acting in the capacity the respondent was acting in or purporting to act in when the loss occurred.
(B) Issues an order imposing a cease and desist order, an order for a monetary penalty, or another sanction with respect to the respondent’s conduct.
(3) The restitution order shall cite the factual basis for the restitution order.
(4) The restitution order shall state the persons, or classes of persons, who suffered a loss.
(5) The restitution order shall state the amount to be paid or property to be returned as restitution.
(c) A rescission or restitution order shall be subject to judicial review in the same manner and at the same time as the order to which it is ancillary.
(d) A rescission or restitution order may be judicially enforced in an action brought by the commissioner, the Attorney General, a district attorney, a city attorney, or any person owed restitution pursuant to the order. In that action, the court may award attorney’s fees and court costs to a prevailing plaintiff.
(e) This section does not apply to an insurer authorized to transact business in this state or to a placement of insurance with an insurer that was in compliance with Section 1765.1 or 1765.2 at the time of the placement. This section does not apply to a person with respect to acts within the scope of a license issued under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1621), Chapter 5A (commencing with Section 1759), or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760) of Part 2 if the person holds that license at the time of those acts or at the time an initial pleading seeking restitution is issued.
(f) The commissioner may order a respondent who is ordered to provide restitution pursuant to this section to reimburse the commissioner for the commissioner’s costs of implementing and enforcing this section, including attorney’s fees. The commissioner shall not credit any funds received from a respondent towards payment of a monetary penalty until restitution has been tendered to all persons to whom restitution is owed, or to the commissioner on their behalf, as required by a restitution order.
(g) This section does not limit or restrict actions, remedies, or procedures otherwise available to the commissioner, the department, or any person pursuant to an administrative or civil action to enforce any law. It is not a defense in an administrative or civil action that the commissioner did not order a person to pay restitution.
(h) This section does not expand, limit, or otherwise affect the commissioner’s authority to seek or to have sought restitution, refunds, or penalties against insurers, except as expressly provided.
(i) As used in this section, “restitution” means the full amount that will compensate each person for their direct and indirect financial and nonfinancial losses proximately caused by the respondent’s violations.
(j) Money received by the commissioner for distribution to persons as restitution pursuant to this section or Section 12928.6 or 12976 shall be deposited into the Insurance Fund.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 540, Sec. 2. (SB 1040) Effective January 1, 2023.)