Bus. & Prof. Code, § 11319.2

(a) A license of a licensee or a certificate of a registrant shall be suspended automatically during any time that the licensee or registrant is incarcerated after conviction of a felony, regardless of whether the conviction has been appealed. The office shall, immediately upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, determine whether the license of the licensee or certificate of the registrant has been automatically suspended by virtue of the licensee’s or registrant’s incarceration, and if so, the duration of that suspension. The office shall notify the licensee or registrant in writing of the license or certificate suspension and of the right to elect to have the issue of penalty heard as provided in subdivision (d).

(b) If after a hearing before an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings it is determined that the felony for which the licensee or registrant was convicted was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant, the director upon receipt of the certified copy of the record of conviction, shall suspend the license or certificate until the time for appeal has elapsed, if an appeal has not been taken, or until the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal or has otherwise become final, and until further order of the director.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a conviction of a charge of violating any federal statute or regulation or any statute or regulation of this state regulating dangerous drugs or controlled substances, or a conviction of Section 187, 261, 288, or former Section 262, of the Penal Code, shall be conclusively presumed to be substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant and a hearing shall not be held on this issue. However, upon its own motion or for good cause shown, the director may decline to impose or may set aside the suspension when it appears to be in the interest of justice to do so, with due regard to maintaining the integrity of, and confidence in, the practice regulated by the office.

(d) (1) Discipline may be ordered against a licensee or registrant in accordance with the laws and regulations of the office when the time for appeal has elapsed, the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw a plea of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, complaint, information, or indictment.

(2) The issue of penalty shall be heard by an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings. The hearing shall not be had until the judgment of conviction has become final or, irrespective of a subsequent order under Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code, an order granting probation has been made suspending the imposition of sentence, except that a licensee or registrant may, at the licensee’s or registrant’s option, elect to have the issue of penalty decided before those time periods have elapsed. Where the licensee or registrant so elects, the issue of penalty shall be heard in the manner described in subdivision (b) at the hearing to determine whether the conviction was substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a licensee or registrant. If the conviction of a licensee or registrant who has made this election is overturned on appeal, any discipline ordered pursuant to this section shall automatically cease. This subdivision does not prohibit the office from pursuing disciplinary action based on any cause other than the overturned conviction.

(e) The record of the proceedings resulting in a conviction, including a transcript of the testimony in those proceedings, may be received in evidence.

(f) Any other law setting forth a procedure for the suspension or revocation of a license or certificate issued by the office shall not apply to proceedings conducted pursuant to this section.