(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 not to exceed the actual processing costs to the Department of Justice and the chief of police, the sheriff, or where appropriate, the police commission may be charged to the applicant for processing the initial license application.
(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) of this division or 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.