(a)
The chief of police, the sheriff, or, where appropriate, the police commission shall accept an application for and grant a license permitting the licensee to engage in the business of pawnbroker, as defined in Section 21000, at the address indicated on the application, to an applicant who has complied with the requirements of Sections 21303, 21304, and 21305 and has not been convicted of an attempt to receive stolen property or any other offense involving stolen property. Prior to the granting of a license, the licensing authority shall submit the application to the Department of Justice. If the Department of Justice does not comment on the application within 30 days thereafter, the licensing authority
shall grant the applicant a license. All forms for application and licensure, and license renewal, shall be prescribed and provided by the Department of Justice. A fee shall be charged to the applicant by the Department of Justice, as specified in Section 21642.5 of the Business and Professions Code, for processing the initial license application and funding the single, statewide, uniform electronic reporting system set forth in subdivision (j) of Section 21628 of the Business and Professions Code. The licensing authority shall collect the fee and transmit the fee to the Department of Justice. In addition, the police chief, sheriff, or, where appropriate, the police commission, may charge a fee to the applicant not to exceed the actual costs incurred to process the application and to collect and transmit the fee charged by the Department of Justice.
(b)
For the purposes of this section, “convicted” means a plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere.
(c)
Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), no person shall be denied a pawnbroker’s license solely on the grounds that he or she violated any provision contained in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 21000) or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 21200), or any provision contained in Article 4 (commencing with Section 21625) or Article 5 (commencing with Section 21650) of Chapter 9 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, unless the violation demonstrates a pattern of conduct.