you're right, it's more complicated than I said.
You have to pay $X to the state as a condition of your licensing. I guess the $X is actually yours and not the states but you never get it back. I'm a little fuzzy on that.
But The department of community affairs handles investigations and can have a hearing (although they usually just assume the complainent is right and try to nag you into settling).
The idea is that if you have to pay some sort of restitution and aren't able to, the state can step in and settle it for you but I don't think they ever let the contractor get away without paying.
I'm not in business for myself and am not an electrician so I'm not clear on the details. I did own a construction company for several years but did not build new homes so I wasn't required to participate in this program.
