RULE 5014-1
SCOPE OF
RULES.(a) Chapter
5014 of these Rules applies in
all investigations, proceedings, and rule-making conducted by the Department.
The purpose of Chapter
5014 is to provide guidance and
direction in the procedures used by the Department to formulate orders and
conduct investigations and proceedings. In connection with any particular
matter, reference should also be made to any special requirements of procedure
and practice that may be contained in the particular statute involved or the
rules and forms adopted by the Commissioner thereunder, or any relevant laws of
the State of Arkansas, which special requirements are controlling.
(b) Rule
5014 should be read in
conjunction with the APA.
RULE
5014-1.01
LOCATION OF THE OFFICE, CONTACT INFORMATION AND
BUSINESS HOURS.
All communication and inquiries shall be delivered to:
(a) Arkansas Securities Department, 201 East
Markham, Heritage West Building, Suite 300, Little Rock, Arkansas
72201.
(b) The general information
number for the Department is (501) 324-9260, or the toll free number is (800)
981-4429. The fax number for the Department is (501) 324-9268.
(c) The Department's website is located at
http://www.securities.arkansas.gov.
(d) The business hours of the Department are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day except for Saturdays, Sundays, and legally
declared state holidays.
RULE
5014-1.02
POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER.
The Commissioner shall have all the powers necessary to conduct
investigations and proceedings in a fair and impartial manner and to avoid
unnecessary delay. The powers of the Commissioner include, but are not limited
to, the following:
(a) Administer oaths
and affirmations;
(b) Subpoena
witnesses, documents, or records;
(c) Permit discovery by deposition or
otherwise;
(d) Preside over a
hearing or designate a hearing officer to preside over a hearing;
(e) Maintain order by regulating the course
of the hearing and the conduct of the parties and their attorney, including the
power to receive relevant and material evidence, to exclude repetitious
evidence, rule upon the admissibility of evidence and offers of proof, and
exclude or suspend a party's attorney from the proceedings for dilatory,
obstructionist, egregious, contemptuous, or contumacious conduct;
(f) Schedule and hold prehearing conferences
and conferences prior to and during the course of a hearing for purposes of
settlement or simplification of issues;
(g) Consider and rule upon all procedural and
other pleadings and motions appropriate in a proceeding, including petitions to
add a party or intervenor;
(h)
Recuse for bias or conflict of interest himself or herself on a motion made by
a party and appointing a new hearing officer in his place;
(i) Take such action as the circumstances
warrant against a person who engages in dilatory or obstructionist conduct
during the course of a deposition, including exclusion of the offending person
from participation in the deposition or contested case; and
(j) Perform all other functions necessary and
appropriate to discharge the duties of Commissioner.
RULE 5014-2
INVESTIGATIONS, PROCEEDINGS, AND HEARINGS.
RULE 5014-2.01
INVESTIGATIONS.
(a) Investigations conducted pursuant to
Section
23-39-514
of the Act are not hearings, either formal or informal, as that term is used in
this Rule.
(b) Upon sufficient
evidence, the Commissioner shall enter an order directing an investigation and
appointing investigative officers from the Staff.
(c) Any person compelled to appear, or who
appears by his own request in person at any investigation proceeding may be
accompanied, represented and advised by counsel.
(d) The right to be accompanied, represented,
and advised by an attorney mean the right of a person testifying to have an
attorney present during any investigative proceeding and to have an attorney
advise such person before, during, and after the conclusion of such
examination; question such person briefly at the conclusion of the examination
to clarify any of the answers such person has given; and make summary notes
during such examination solely for the use of such person.
RULE 5014-2.02
PROCEEDINGS AND
HEARINGS.(a) Governing Law and
Procedure. All formal hearings before the Commissioner shall be in accordance
with the provisions of the Act, the APA and these Rules.
(b) Commencement of a Proceeding. The filing
of a pleading, other than a request for subpoena or a request for an order
directing investigation and designating officers pursuant to Section
23-39-514(g)
of the Act, by the Staff with the Commissioner shall be deemed to be the
institution of a proceeding. The entering of a summary order postponing or
suspending a license shall be deemed to be the institution of a proceeding as
well.
(c) Types of Hearings. The
Department shall engage in two forms of hearings:
(1) Informal hearings or conferences.
Informal hearings or conferences conducted on an informal basis, at the
direction of the Commissioner or by mutual consent of the parties, may be held
in person at a specified time and place or with the Commissioner by telephone.
Informal hearings or conferences may be held, upon reasonable notice to all
parties, prior to or subsequent to a scheduled formal hearing, or in
circumstances where no pleading was issued and no formal hearing has yet been
scheduled, or during a recess of the formal hearing. Issues that may be
determined at an informal hearing or conference include the following:
(A) Clarification or simplification of the
issues as to pleadings filed;
(B)
Exchange of witness and exhibit lists and copies of exhibits;
(C) Stipulations, admissions of fact, as well
as the contents, authenticity, and admissibility of documents into
evidence;
(D) Matters of which
official notice may be taken;
(E)
Issues relating to witnesses and exhibits;
(F) Summary disposition of any and all
issues;
(G) Resolution of document
production issues or disputes;
(H)
Amendments to pleadings;
(I) Need
for formal action by the Department;
(J) Possibility of settlement among parties;
and
(K) Such other matters the
Commissioner determines to be within the scope of such an informal hearing or
conference.
(2) Formal
Hearings.
(A) Parties. The parties to the
proceedings before the Commissioner shall be styled Staff, applicants,
licensees, petitioners, intervenors, complaintants, or respondents, etc.,
according to the nature of the proceedings and relationship of the parties
thereto.
(B) Liberal Construction.
All pleadings shall be liberally construed with a view to effect justice
between the parties, and the Commissioner will at every stage of any proceeding
disregard errors or difficulties in the pleadings which do not affect
materially the substantive rights of the parties involved.
(C) Pre-Hearing Orders. At or within a
reasonable time following the conclusion of a scheduling conference or any
pre-hearing conference, the Commissioner may serve on each party an order
setting forth any agreements reached and any procedural determinations made. If
the Commissioner has ordered a party to disclose all witnesses or exhibits, no
witness may testify and no exhibit may be introduced at the hearing if such
witness or exhibit was not disclosed pursuant to such order, unless the
Commissioner allows a party the sufficient time to prepare in the light of the
undisclosed witness or exhibit.
(D)
Informal Discussions. Following any discussion among the Commissioner, the
parties, and the Staff addressing any issues in a contested case that occur
during a hearing recess, the Commissioner shall place the substance of the
communication on the record including any action taken and any agreements made
by the parties as to any matters that were discussed.
RULE 5014-3
PLEADINGS AND PRACTICE.RULE
5014-3.01
PLEADINGS ALLOWED.
Pleadings shall include all forms of petitions, requests,
complaints, answers, responses, replies, proposals, notices, applications,
briefs, and filings of any nature that are placed before the
Commissioner.
RULE 5014-3.02
FORM.
The form to be followed in the filing of pleadings pursuant to
these Rules will vary to the extent necessary to provide for the nature of the
legal rights, duties, or privileges involved therein. Except as otherwise
provided by law or the Commissioner otherwise determines, the pleadings shall
include the following:
(a) A statement
setting forth clearly and concisely the authorization or other relief sought,
as well as:
(1) The exact legal name of each
person seeking authorization or relief and the address or principal place of
business for each such person, unless the pleading is filed by the Department.
If any applicant, petitioner, respondent, or movant is a corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, trust, association, or other organized group,
it shall also specify the state under which it was created or
organized;
(2) The name, title,
address, and telephone number of the attorney to whom the correspondence or
communication in regard to the pleading is to be addressed. Notices, orders,
and other papers may be served upon the person so named and such service shall
be deemed to be service on the petitioner, respondent, or applicant;
(3) A concise and explicit statement of the
facts on which the Commissioner is expected to rely in granting the
authorization or other relief sought; and
(4) An explanation of any unusual
circumstances involved in the pleading to which the Commissioner will be
expected to direct particular attention, including the existence of emergency
conditions or any request for the granting of interlocutory relief by way of an
interim order during the pendency of the pleading.
(b) Any exhibits, sworn written testimony,
data, models, illustrations, or other materials that the applicant, petitioner,
respondent, or movant deems necessary or desirable to support the granting of
the pleading or that any statute or regulation may require for the lawful
determination of the pleading.
(c)
All documents, whenever practicable, shall be printed, typewritten, or
reproduced on one side of the paper only, and double-spaced with a normal
margin on all four sides. All pleadings shall be on paper 8 1/2 by 11
inches in size.
(d) The venue as
"Before the Arkansas Securities Commissioner," the title of the proceedings,
the case number assigned, and an appropriate designation of the pleading.
RULE 5014-3.03
MOTIONS.
(a) All requests for
relief will be by motion. Motions must be in writing or orally if made on the
record during a hearing, unless the Commissioner directs that such motion be
reduced to writing.
(b) A motion
must fully state the relief sought and the grounds relied upon. It may be
accompanied by a proposed order. Written memoranda, briefs, affidavits or other
relevant materials or documents may be filed in support of or in opposition to
a motion.
(c) The original written
motion will be filed with the Commissioner. There shall be an original and two
copies of each pleading and each exhibit.
(d) A response to a motion must be filed by a
party within ten days of the date of service of a written motion. This time may
be extended as permitted by the Commissioner for good cause shown.
(e) No oral arguments may be held on written
motions except as otherwise directed by the Commissioner.
(f) The Commissioner shall not rule on any
oral or written motion before each party has had an opportunity to respond. The
failure of a party to oppose a motion is deemed consent by that party to the
entry of an order granting the relief sought.
(g) The Commissioner or his designee as
hearing officer may conduct such proceedings and enter such orders as are
deemed necessary to address issues raised by the motion. However, a hearing
officer, other than the Commissioner, will not enter a dispositive order unless
expressly authorized in writing to do so.
(h) Upon written request from a Respondent
made no less than ten days prior to a scheduled hearing, the following
information shall be provided:
(1) The names
and addresses of persons whom the Staff intends to call as witnesses at any
hearing;
(2) Any written or
recorded statements and the substance of any oral statements made by the
license holder, or a copy of the same;
(3) Any reports or statements of experts made
in connection with the particular case, including results of physical or mental
examinations, scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons, or copies of the
same;
(4) Any books, papers,
documents, photographs, or tangible objects which the Staff intends to use in
any hearing or which were obtained from or belong to the license holder, or
copies of the same; and
(5)
Disclosure shall not be required of research or records, correspondence,
reports, or memoranda to the extent that they contain the opinions, theories,
or conclusions of the Staff or members of the legal Staff or other state agents
of the Staff.
RULE
5014-3.04
BRIEFS.
Briefs may be filed by a party or interested non-party either
before or during the course of a hearing or within such time as the
Commissioner designates. Failure to file a brief shall in no way prejudice the
rights of any party. The order of filing briefs or reply briefs shall be
designated by Commissioner. A party may request an extension of the briefing
schedule set by the Commissioner prior to the due date. Late briefs may be
considered by the Commissioner at his discretion.
RULE 5014-3.05
COMPUTATIONS OF
TIME.
In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by the Act
or these rules, the day of the act, event, or default after which the
designated period of time begins to run is not to be included. The last day of
the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a
legally declared state holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed
is less than ten days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legally declared
state holidays shall be excluded in the computation.
RULE 5014-3.06
EXTENSIONS OF
TIME.
(a) Except as otherwise provided
by law, the Commissioner may, for good cause shown, extend any time limit
prescribed or allowed by the Act, these Rules, or by any notice or order issued
in a contested case, hearing, or other proceeding.
(b) In determining whether to grant an
extension of time, the Commissioner may consider:
(1) Prior continuances or extensions of
time;
(2) The interests of all
parties;
(3) The likelihood of
informal settlements;
(4) The
existence of an emergency;
(5) Any
objection;
(6) Any applicable time
requirement;
(7) The existence of a
conflict of the schedules of attorneys, parties, or witnesses;
(8) The time limits of the request;
and
(9) Other relevant
factors.
(c) Any party may
request an extension of time via a motion. The Commissioner may grant an
extension of time once notice and opportunity to respond is afforded to all
parties. The Commissioner may grant extensions of time on his own
motion.
(d) Requests for extensions
of time, other than motions for continuances, must be made as soon as
practicable and, except in cases of emergencies, no later than five days prior
to the date noticed for the hearing. The Commissioner may require documentation
of any grounds for extensions.
RULE
5014-3.07
EFFECT OF FILING.
The filing with the Commissioner of any pleadings, requests for
no action or interpretive opinions, or any other document shall not relieve any
person of the obligation to comply with any statute, rule, or order of the
Commissioner. Acceptance of such filing by the Commissioner shall not
constitute a waiver of any failure to comply with the Act or these Rules. Where
appropriate, the Commissioner may require the amendment of any
filing.
RULE 5014-3.08
FILING AND SERVICE.
(a) Any
pleading filed by the Staff or notice of hearing summary order issued by the
Commissioner for the purpose of commencing a proceeding shall be served on each
respondent by personal service, registered or certified mail, or any express
delivery service which provides a written confirmation of delivery.
(b) Following the date of commencement of a
proceeding, all pleadings may be filed with the Commissioner via United States
Mail or hand-delivery.
(c) Pleading
filed with the Commissioner shall reflect the parties upon whom the pleading
was served.
(d) A copy of every
pleading filed with the Commissioner by a party shall be served upon the
attorney of record for every other party and upon any person appearing
pro se.
(e)
Written interrogatories, requests for production, and other discovery requests
shall not be filed with the Commissioner, but shall be served by the party
making the discovery request upon the attorney of record for every other party
and upon any person appearing pro se.
RULE 5014-3.09
SUBMISSION OF
INFORMATION.
Any information filed or submitted to the Department in
connection with an application or otherwise given voluntarily to the Department
may, where competent and relevant, be used in any criminal prosecutions under
the Act or other laws of the State of Arkansas or other
jurisdiction.
RULE
5014-4
HEARING PROCEDURES.RULE
5014-4.01
NOTICE OF HEARINGS.
(a) A notice of hearing shall be served upon
each party. This may be by hand delivery or United States Mail within a
reasonable amount of time prior to the hearing. For purposes of this Rule,
service of a notice of hearing by the Commissioner upon any licensee may be by
United States Mail to the business address of the licensee.
(b) The notice of hearing will include:
(1) A statement of the time, place, and
nature of the hearing;
(2) A
statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to
be held;
(3) The name(s) of the
respondents; and
(4) A short and
plain statement of the matters of fact and law asserted.
(c) The Commissioner may in his discretion
amend the notice of hearing at any stage of a proceeding provided that the
parties are provided reasonable notice of the amendment and allowed sufficient
time to prepare their case in light of the amendment.
RULE 5014-4.02
RIGHTS OF
WITNESSES.
Any person who appears and testifies in a deposition, under oath,
or in a contested case may be accompanied, represented, and advised by an
attorney. The right to be accompanied, represented, and advised by an attorney
means the right of a person testifying to have an attorney present at all times
while testifying and to have an attorney:
(a) Advise the person before and after
conclusion of the testimony;
(b)
Question the person briefly at the conclusion of testimony to clarify any of
the answers given; and
(c) Make
summary notes during the testimony solely for the use of the person.
RULE 5014-4.03
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PARTIES.
If it appears that the determination of the rights of parties in
a proceeding will necessarily involve a determination of the substantial
interests of persons who are not parties, the Commissioner may enter an order
requiring that an absent person be notified of the proceeding and be given an
opportunity to be joined as a party of record.
RULE 5014-4.04
SUBPOENAS.
(a) At the request of any party, the
Commissioner shall issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses at a
hearing. The requesting party shall specify whether the witness is also
requested to bring documents and reasonably identify said documents.
(b) A subpoena for appearance may be served
via certified mail or by personal service by any person specified by law to
serve process or by any person who is not a party and who is eighteen years of
age or older. Delivering a copy to the person named in the subpoena shall make
service. Proof of service may be made by affidavit of the person making
service. The party seeking the subpoena shall have the burden of obtaining
service of the process and shall be charged with the responsibility of
tendering appropriate mileage fees and witness fees pursuant to Rule
45, Arkansas Rules of Civil
Procedure. The witness must be served a reasonable time prior to the
hearing.
(c) Any motion to quash or
limit the subpoena shall be filed with the Commissioner and shall state the
grounds relied upon.
RULE 5014
-4.05
HEARING LOCATION.
Unless the Commissioner designates a different location, all
hearings shall be held at the offices of the Department.
RULE 5014 -4.06
CONSOLIDATION AND
SEVERANCE.(a) The Commissioner may,
for good cause, upon the Commissioner's own motion or upon motion by a party,
consolidate separate matters that involve related questions of law or fact, or
identical parties if it appears that consolidation would promote a just,
speedy, and inexpensive resolution of the proceedings, and would not unduly
prejudice the rights of a party.
(b) The Commissioner may, for good cause,
upon the Commissioner's own motion or upon motion by a party, sever the
proceeding for separate resolution of the matter as to any party or issue. In
determining whether to sever the proceeding, the Commissioner shall consider
whether any undue prejudice or injustice would result from not severing the
proceeding outweighs the interests of judicial economy and expeditiousness in
the complete and final resolution of the proceeding.
RULE 5014 -4.07
CONDUCT OF
HEARING.(a) The Commissioner presides
at the hearing and may rule on motions, require briefs, and issue such orders
as will ensure the orderly conduct of the proceedings; provided, however, any
hearing officer other than the Commissioner shall not enter a dispositive order
or proposed decision unless expressly authorized in writing to do so.
(b) All objections must be made in a timely
manner and stated on the record.
(c) Parties have the right to participate or
to be represented by an attorney in hearings or prehearing conferences related
to their case.
(d) Subject to the
terms and conditions prescribed by the APA, parties have the right to introduce
evidence on issues of material fact, cross-examine witnesses as necessary for a
full and true disclosure of the facts, present evidence in rebuttal, engage in
oral argument, and, upon request, may submit briefs.
(e) The Commissioner is charged with
maintaining the decorum of the hearing and may refuse to admit, or may expel,
anyone whose conduct is disorderly.
RULE 5014-4.08
ORDER OF
PROCEEDINGS.
The Commissioner will conduct the hearing in the following
manner:
(a) The Commissioner will give
an opening statement, briefly describing the nature of the
proceedings.
(b) The parties are to
be given the opportunity to present opening statements.
(c) The parties will be allowed to present
their cases in the sequence determined by the presiding officer.
(d) Each witness must be sworn or affirmed by
the Commissioner, or the court reporter, and be subject to examination and
cross-examination as well as questioning by the Commissioner. The Commissioner
may limit questioning in a manner consistent with the law.
(e) When all parties and witnesses have been
heard, parties may be given the opportunity to present final
arguments.
(f) The Commissioner
may, at any time prior to the rendering of a final decision, reopen the hearing
upon the motion of the Commissioner or any party for good cause shown. The
parties shall be notified of the reopening and the hearing shall be convened
not less than ten days after the sending of such notice unless waived by the
parties and the Staff.
RULE
5014-4.09
FAILURE TO REQUEST OR APPEAR AT A HEARING.
(a) When a party fails to request a hearing
within the time specified in the cease and desist order or other administrative
order, the allegations against the party may be deemed admitted.
(b) If a party fails to appear or participate
in an administrative adjudication after proper service of notice, the Staff may
proceed with the hearing and the Commissioner may render a decision in the
absence of the party. The allegations against the party may be deemed admitted.
Without further proceedings or notice to the party, the Commissioner shall
issue a final decision. The Commissioner may, if deemed necessary, receive
evidence from the Staff, as part of the record, concerning the appropriateness
of the amount of any civil penalty sought in the request.
RULE 5014-4.10
APPEARANCE, PRACTICE,
AND WITHDRAWAL BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER.
(a) Any party appearing in any proceeding has
the right, at the party's own expense, to be represented by an attorney. The
attorney must be duly admitted to practice law in the State of Arkansas and in
good standing with the bar of the State of Arkansas. The Commissioner, at his
discretion, may require any attorney who desires to represent a person before
the Commissioner to first file with the Commissioner a written declaration that
he is currently qualified and is authorized to represent the particular party
in whose behalf he acts. Attorneys in good standing from other jurisdictions
may request and, for good cause shown, be allowed to appear in a contested
case, provided an attorney admitted to practice in Arkansas is present during
the entire proceeding, signs all pleadings and other papers filed in the
proceeding and agrees to take full responsibility for supervising the conduct
of the attorney.
(b) Any party may
appear on his or her own behalf in a contested case. Other duly authorized
individuals include a partner, member, or manager of a partnership or limited
liability company may appear and represent the partnership or limited liability
company; and a duly authorized officer, director, or employee of any agency,
institution, corporation, or authority may appear and represent the agency,
institution, corporation, or authority.
(c) Any party acting pro se shall so notify
the Commissioner in writing. The notice of appearance shall include accurate
contact information.
(d) Service on
the attorney of record is the equivalent of service on the party
represented.
(e) After a notice of
appearance is filed by a party or attorney, copies of all subsequent pleadings
shall be provided to the person named in the notice of appearance and the
person designated to represent the Staff.
RULE 5014-4.11
RECORDING THE PROCEEDING
AND TRANSCRIPT CORRECTIONS.
(a) The
responsibility to record the testimony heard at a hearing is borne by the
Department. Any party may request a copy of the transcript from the court
reporter and such copy shall be made available to any party upon payment of the
cost of the transcript.
(b) The
Commissioner shall have the authority to order the transcript corrected upon a
motion to correct, upon stipulation of the parties, or upon the Commissioner's
own motion following notice to the parties. The Commissioner may call for the
submission of proposed corrections and may order the corrections at appropriate
times during the course of the proceedings. Corrections in the official
transcript may be made only to make it conform to the evidence presented at the
hearing. Transcript corrections may be incorporated into the record at any time
during the hearing or after the close of evidence, but not more than thirty
days from the date of receipt of the transcript by the Commissioner.
RULE 5014-4.12
EVIDENCE.
(a) The Commissioner
shall rule on the admissibility of evidence and may, when appropriate, take
official notice of facts and generally recognized technical or scientific
facts.
(b) Stipulation of facts is
encouraged. Parties may stipulate as to relevant matters of fact or the
authentication of relevant documents that may be entered as evidence at the
commencement of or during the hearing. The Commissioner may make a decision
based on stipulated facts.
(c) A
party seeking admission of an exhibit must provide four copies of each exhibit
at the hearing. The Commissioner must provide the opposing parties with an
opportunity to examine the exhibit prior to the ruling on its admissibility.
All exhibits admitted into evidence must be appropriately marked and be made
part of the record.
(d) Formal
exceptions to rulings on evidence and procedure are unnecessary. It is
sufficient that a party, at the time an evidentiary ruling is sought, makes
known to the Commissioner the objections to such action and the grounds for
such objection. The objection, the ruling on the objection, and the reasons for
the ruling will be noted in the record. Failure to object to the admission of
evidence or any ruling constitutes a waiver of the objection. The Commissioner
may rule on the objection at the time it is made or may reserve the ruling
until the written decision.
(e)
Whenever evidence is ruled inadmissible, the party offering that evidence may
submit an offer of proof on the record. The party making the offer of proof for
excluded or rejected oral testimony will briefly provide a summarized statement
of the testimony. If the excluded evidence consists of a document, record, or
written form, a copy of such evidence shall be marked as part of an offer of
proof and inserted in the record.
(f) Irrelevant, immaterial, and unduly
repetitive evidence will be excluded. Any other oral or documentary evidence,
not privileged, may be received if it is of a type commonly relied upon by
reasonably prudent people in the conduct of their affairs.
(g) The Commissioner may base the finding of
facts upon reasonable inferences derived from evidence received. During the
hearing the finder of fact shall have the authority to employ the Staff's
experience, technical competence, and specialized knowledge in evaluating the
evidence presented at the hearing for the purpose of making findings of fact
and arriving at a decision in any contested case.
(h) At any stage of the hearing, the
Commissioner may call for further evidence upon any issue and require that such
evidence be produced by the relevant party, or may authorize any party to file
specific documentary evidence as part of the record, either at the hearing or
within a specified time, provided every party shall be afforded a reasonable
opportunity to review and rebut or object to such evidence.
RULE 5014-4.13
ORDERS.
(a) All decisions and
orders of the Commissioner concluding a proceeding shall be in writing and
served on all parties.
(1) The order will
include a recitation of facts found based on testimony, other evidence
presented, and reasonable inferences derived from the evidence pertinent to the
issues of the case. It will also state conclusions of law and directives or
other disposition entered against or in favor of the respondent.
(2) The order will be served personally or by
mail on the parties. If respondent is represented by an attorney, service of
the order on respondent's attorney shall be deemed service on the
respondent.
(b) Summary
Order. In addition to the procedures set forth in Rule 5014-2.02, Rule
5014-4.01, Rule 5014-4.10, and 5014-4.13(a) the Commissioner may issue a
summary order:
(1) Whether a person is an
applicant, licensee, or other person, to cease and desist from an act or
practice or apply directly to a court of competent jurisdiction for such relief
as the Commissioner deems appropriate pursuant to Sections
23-39-514(e)
and
23-39-514(m)
of the Act:
(A) If it is in the public
interest; and
(B) The Commissioner
deems it necessary.
(2) To
postpone the approval of a license for an applicant or suspend the license of a
licensee, if the Staff learns that an applicant or licensee has failed to
comply with the Act or Rules.
(A) If such a
summary order is entered, the Commissioner must promptly notify the applicant
or licensee (as well as the employer or prospective employer, if applicable).
Notification or service shall by United States Mail.
(B) The summary order remains in effect
pending final determination of a proceeding to deny or revoke the application
as a result of a hearing.
(C) The
date for a hearing on a summary order shall be set no more than fifteen days
after receipt of a written request to hold such a hearing; if no hearing is
requested, the summary order will remain in effect until modified or vacated by
the Commissioner.
(D) A summary
order entered prior to a hearing can be used to postpone or suspend
applications or license. Revocation can occur only after the filing of a
pleading and notice of hearing.
(c) Amended Orders. All orders may be vacated
or modified if conditions change or it is otherwise in the public interest to
do so. Such modifications will be evidenced by an Amended Order.
(d) Nothing shall prohibit or restrict
informal disposition of a pleading or order by stipulation, settlement,
consent, or default in lieu of a formal or informal hearing on the matter or in
lieu of sanctions imposed. An order shall be entered if administrative
proceedings have been instituted or a pleading has been filed. All orders shall
be public.
RULE 5014-4.14
RIGHT TO APPEAL.
A person who is aggrieved by the final decision of the
Commissioner may seek judicial review of the decision in accordance with the
provisions of Section
23-39-515
of the Act.
RULE
5014-5
CHALLENGE OF INFORMATION IN THE NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE
LICENSING SYSTEM AND REGISTRY.
(a)
Subject to any state or federal privacy laws, the Commissioner shall report
regularly on the NMLS & R, any enforcement actions against a licensee or
any person found to be in violation of the Act, as well as any other relevant
information.
(b) The information
reported to the NMLS & R may be challenged by filing a written complaint to
the Commissioner.
(c) A complaint
shall be deemed filed with the Commissioner upon receipt of the complaint by
the Commissioner.
RULE
5014-6
EXAMINATIONS.
(a) Control Access to Records. In making any
examination authorized by this Act, the Commissioner may control access to any
documents and records of the licensee or person under examination. The
Commissioner may take possession of the documents and records or place a person
in exclusive charge of the documents and records in the place where they are
usually kept. During the period of control, no individual or person shall
remove or attempt to remove any of the documents and records except pursuant to
a court order or with the consent of the commissioner. Unless the Commissioner
has reasonable grounds to believe the documents or records of the licensee have
been, or are at risk of being altered or destroyed for purposes of concealing a
violation of this Act, the licensee or owner of the documents and records shall
have access to the documents or records as necessary to conduct its ordinary
business affairs.
(b) In order to
carry out the purposes of this Rule, the Commissioner may:
(1) Retain attorneys, accountants, or other
professionals and specialists as examiners, auditors, or investigators to
conduct or assist in the conduct of examinations or investigations;
(2) Enter into agreements or relationships
with other government officials or regulatory associations in order to improve
efficiencies and reduce regulatory burden by sharing resources, standardized or
uniform methods or procedures, and documents, records, information or evidence
obtained under this section;
(3)
Use, hire, contract, or employ public or privately available analytical
systems, methods or software to examine or investigate the licensee, individual
or person subject to the Act;
(4)
Accept and rely on examination or investigation reports made by other
government officials, within or without this state; or
(5) Accept audit reports made by an
independent certified public accountant for the licensee or person subject to
this Act.
RULE
5014-7
LICENSURE OF INDIVIDUALS
RULE 5014-7.01
LOAN OFFICER, MORTGAGE
BROKER, MORTGAGE BANKER, OR MORTGAGE SERVICER
(a) A licensee may agree in writing to allow
the Commissioner or the Staff additional time after withdrawal becomes
effective in which to investigate or examine facts or mortgage loan activities
thus extending the time limitation in which a suspension or revocation
proceeding can be instituted.
(b)
When the Staff or the Commissioner learns, through examination or otherwise, of
an applicant's or licensee's possible failure to comply with the Act or Rules
or when it is determined that the applicant or licensee might be subject to one
of the provisions set forth in Section
23-39-514(a)
of the Act or a cancellation of registration pursuant to Section
23-39-514(d)
of the Act, the Staff shall notify such applicant or licensee of the alleged
violation or action and set a period of time in which the applicant or licensee
must show compliance. If the applicant's or licensee's response to the Staff's
letter is deemed not to show compliance with the Act or Rules or shows the
applicant or licensee to be subject to Section
23-39-514(d)
of the Act, a pleading may be filed by the Staff with the Commissioner asking
that the matter be set for a hearing. The sending of such a letter shall not be
deemed to be the institution of a proceeding.
(c) If the Staff files a pleading with the
Commissioner or the Commissioner summarily suspends or postpones a license, the
applicant or licensee (as well as the employer or prospective employer if the
applicant or licensee is a loan officer) shall be promptly served with a copy
of the pleading or order.
(d) If
the Commissioner issues an order which imposes a suspension, revocation, or
cancellation of the license of a person or bars that person from further
association with any licensee, the licensee shall not allow that person to
remain associated with it in any capacity whatsoever, including clerical or
ministerial functions. When an individual is suspended, a licensee, in addition
to the above, shall not pay or credit any salary, commission, profit, or other
remuneration which results directly or indirectly from any mortgage loan
activity which that individual might have earned during the period of
suspension.