Section 537.2303. Revocation or suspension of license.

  1.  The licensing authority may issue to a person subject to regulation by that authority an order to show cause why the person’s license with respect to one or more specific places of business should not be suspended for a period not in excess of six months, or revoked. The order shall set the place for a hearing and set a time for the hearing that is not less than ten days from the date of the order. After the hearing, if the licensing authority finds that the licensee has intentionally violated this chapter, or any rule or order made pursuant to law, including an order of discontinuance, or if facts or conditions exist which would clearly have justified the licensing authority in refusing to grant a license for that place or those places of business had these facts or conditions been known to exist at the time the application for the license was made, the licensing authority shall revoke or suspend the license or, if there are mitigating circumstances, may accept an assurance of discontinuance as provided in section 537.6109, and allow retention of the license.

  2.  No revocation or suspension of a license is lawful unless prior to institution of proceedings by the licensing authority notice is given to the licensee of the facts or conduct which warrant the intended action, and the licensee is given an opportunity to show compliance with all lawful requirements for retention of the license.

  3.  If the licensing authority finds that probable cause for revocation of a license exists and that enforcement of the law requires immediate suspension of the license pending investigation, the licensing authority may, after a hearing upon five days’ written notice, enter an order suspending the license for not more than thirty days.

  4.  Whenever the licensing authority revokes or suspends a license, the licensing authority shall enter an order to that effect and forthwith notify the licensee of the revocation or suspension. Within five days after the entry of the order the licensing authority shall deliver to the licensee a copy of the order and the findings supporting the order.

  5.  Any person holding a license to make supervised loans may relinquish the license by notifying the licensing authority in writing of its relinquishment, but this relinquishment does not affect the licensee’s liability for acts previously committed.

  6.  No revocation, suspension or relinquishment of a license impairs or affects the obligation of any preexisting lawful contract between the licensee and any consumer.

  7.  The licensing authority may reinstate a license, terminate a suspension or grant a new license to a person whose license has been revoked or suspended if no fact or condition then exists which clearly would justify the licensing authority in refusing to grant a license.

[C75, 77, 79, 81, §537.2303]