Section 5096.4.

(a) The right of an individual to practice in this state under a practice privilege may be administratively suspended at any time by an order issued by the board or its executive officer, without prior notice or hearing, for the purpose of conducting a disciplinary investigation, proceeding, or inquiry concerning the representations made in the notice, the individual's competence or qualifications to practice under practice privileges, failure to timely respond to a board inquiry or request for information or documents, or under other conditions and circumstances provided for by board regulation. The board shall consult the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the Securities and Exchange Commission on an every six-month basis to identify out-of-state licensees who may have disqualifying conditions, or may be obliged to cease practice, and shall disclose, pursuant to this subdivision, whether those out-of-state licensees are lawfully permitted to exercise the privilege. Disclosure of this information shall not be considered discipline.

(b) The administrative suspension order is immediately effective when mailed to the individual's address of record or agent for notice and service as provided for in this article.

(c) The administrative suspension order shall contain the following:

(1) The reason for the suspension.

(2) A statement that the individual has the right, within 30 days, to appeal the administrative suspension order and request a hearing.

(3) A statement that any appeal hearing will be conducted under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) applicable to individuals who are denied licensure, including the filing of a statement of issues by the board setting forth the reasons for the administrative suspension of practice privileges and specifying the statutes and rules with which the individual must show compliance by producing proof at the hearing and in addition any particular matters that have come to the attention of the board and that would authorize the administrative suspension, or the denial of practice privileges.

(d) The burden is on the holder of the suspended practice privilege to establish both qualification and fitness to practice under practice privileges.

(e) The administrative suspension shall continue in effect until terminated by an order of the board or the executive officer or expiration of the practice privilege under administrative suspension.

(f) Administrative suspension is not discipline and shall not preclude any individual from applying for a license to practice public accountancy in this state or from applying for a new practice privilege upon expiration of the one under administrative suspension, except that the new practice privilege shall not be effective until approved by the board.

(g) Notwithstanding any administrative suspension, a practice privilege expires one year from the date of notice unless a shorter period is set by board regulation.

(h) Proceedings to appeal an administrative suspension order may be combined or coordinated with proceedings for denial or discipline of a practice privilege.

(i) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2019.

(Repealed (in Sec. 20) and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 411, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2013. Section operative January 1, 2019, by its own provisions, subject to conditions in Section 5096.10.)