Section 22442.6.

(a) It is unlawful for an immigration consultant to demand or accept the advance payment of any funds from a person for immigration reform act services before the enactment of an immigration reform act, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 22442.5.

(b) Any funds received after the effective date of this section, but before the enactment of an immigration reform act, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 22442.5, shall be refunded to the client promptly, but no later than 30 days after receipt of any funds.

(c) (1) If an immigration consultant providing immigration reform act services accepted funds prior to the effective date of this section, and the services provided in connection with payment of those funds were rendered, the consultant shall promptly, but no later than 30 days after the effective date of this section, provide the client with a statement of accounting describing the services rendered.

(2) (A) Any funds received before the effective date of this section, for which immigration reform act services were not rendered prior to the effective date of this section, shall either be refunded to the client or shall be deposited in a client trust account pursuant to Section 22442.5.

(B) If an immigration consultant deposits funds in a client trust account pursuant to this paragraph, he or she shall comply with all applicable provisions of this chapter, including Section 22442, and shall provide to the client a written notice, in both English and in the client's native language, that there are no benefits or relief available, that no application for such benefits or relief may be processed until enactment of an immigration reform act and the related necessary federal regulations and forms, and that commencing with the effective date of this section, it is unlawful for an immigration consultant to demand or accept the advance payment of any funds from a person for immigration reform act services before the enactment of an immigration reform act.

(d) (1) In addition to the remedies and penalties prescribed in this chapter, a person who violates this section shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) per day for each violation, to be assessed and collected in a civil action brought by any person injured by the violation or in a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of California by the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a city attorney.

(2) In assessing the amount of the civil penalty, the court may consider relevant circumstances presented by the parties to the case, including, but not limited to, the following:

(A) The nature and severity of the misconduct.

(B) The number of violations.

(C) The length of time over which the misconduct occurred, and the persistence of the misconduct.

(D) The willfulness of the misconduct.

(E) The defendant's assets, liabilities, and net worth.

(3) If the Attorney General brings the action, one-half of the civil penalty collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered, and one-half to the General Fund. If a district attorney brings the action, the civil penalty collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered. If a city attorney brings the action, one-half of the civil penalty collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the city in which the judgment was entered, and one-half to the treasurer of the county in which the judgment was entered.

(4) The court shall grant a prevailing plaintiff reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 574, Sec. 6. Effective October 5, 2013.)