Article 2 - Financial Responsibility

California Food and Agricultural Code — §§ 11931-11940

Sections (10)

§ 11931

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

As used in this article:

(a)“Judgment” means a final judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction in this or any other state, or of the United States, against a person as defendant upon a cause of action which arises out of any pest control operation.

(b)“Operator” means any person that is required to be licensed pursuant to this division who is authorized to apply any pest control material or substance by dusting, spraying, or any other manner whereby such material or substance is applied through the medium of aircraft.

(c)“Pest control operation” means the application of any pest control material or substance by an operator.

§ 11932

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

For the purposes of this article:

(a)A judgment is satisfied when twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) has been credited upon any judgment in excess of that amount which arises out of any one accident or occurrence.

(b)A deposit of bond or other obligation for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States or of this state is pledged is considered a deposit of money.

§ 11933

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

The director shall suspend the license of any operator upon receiving a copy of a judgment and a certificate of facts relative to such judgment, upon a form that is provided by the director, which indicate that the operator has not for a period of 30 days satisfied a final judgment rendered against him.

§ 11934

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

The suspension shall remain in effect and no license shall be issued to the operator unless and until the judgment is satisfied, or the operator submits to the director proof of his financial ability to respond in damages pursuant to the judgment.

§ 11935

Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 517, Sec. 233.

Proof of such financial responsibility may be made by furnishing security in an amount not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). The security may consist of any of the following:

(a)A surety bond in favor of any person that may suffer damage by reason of any pest control operation by the operator which is executed by an admitted surety insurer.

(b)An insurance policy which insures the operator against liability for damages pursuant to the judgment.

§ 11936

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

If the security which is required by Section 11934 is diminished in amount by reason of any recovery against it, the security shall be replenished so that it amounts to not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

§ 11937

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 44, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2002.

Upon the expiration of 30 days after any judgment becomes final, which is not stayed or satisfied in any action which results in a judgment for damages, the clerk of a court shall forward to the director a certified copy of the judgment or a certified copy of the register of actions, and a certificate of facts relative to the judgment, on a form which is provided by the director.

§ 11938

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

Any person whose license has been suspended, is about to be suspended, or becomes subject to suspension pursuant to this article, may relieve himself from the suspension by filing with the director an affidavit which states all of following:

(a)That at the time of the incident upon which the judgment was rendered he was insured.

(b)That the insurer is liable to pay the judgment.

(c)The reason, if known, why the insurance company has not paid the judgment.

§ 11939

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

The person that files the affidavit pursuant to Section 11938 shall also file the original policy of insurance or a certified copy of the policy, if available, and such other documents as the director may require to show that the loss, injury, or damage for which the judgment was rendered, was covered by the policy of insurance.

§ 11940

Enacted by Stats. 1967, Ch. 15.

If the director is satisfied from the papers which are filed pursuant to Sections 11938 and 11939 that the insurer was authorized to issue the policy of insurance in this state at the time of issuing the policy and that the insurer is liable to pay the judgment, at least to the extent and for the amounts which are provided in this article, the director shall not suspend the license or, if the license has already been suspended, he shall reinstate it.