§5008-A. Licensure, license renewal and records kept by professional solicitors
1. Initial licensure. A person or entity may not act as a professional solicitor before that person or entity has received a license from the director. A professional solicitor shall apply for initial licensure by filing a license application with the director, paying the application and license fees as set under section 5015-A and submitting the bond required by subsection 5.
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
2. Content of application for initial licensure. A license application must be sworn to or affirmed by the principal officer of the professional solicitor on a form prescribed by the director and must contain the following information:
A. The name, mailing address and license number of each charitable organization on whose behalf the professional solicitor acts or will act in connection with fund-raising campaigns for contributions from the State's residents; [PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
B. A list of all jurisdictions in which the professional solicitor is authorized to solicit contributions; [PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
C. Disclosure of, and the final disposition document pertaining to, any disciplinary action taken against the applicant by a licensing, registration or regulatory authority in any jurisdiction; [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
D. Disclosure of, and the final disposition document pertaining to, any court action taken against the applicant by a licensing, registration or regulatory authority or law enforcement agency in any jurisdiction that resulted in a restraining order, injunction, civil judgment, criminal conviction, consent judgment, consent agreement, agreement to pay restitution or investigative costs or any other type of negotiated disposition; and [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
E. Other information as the director may require. [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
3. Renewal of licensure as a professional solicitor. A license issued by the director to a professional solicitor expires on November 30th annually or such other time as the director may designate. A professional solicitor shall apply for renewal by filing a renewal application with the director prior to the expiration date, paying the license fee as set under section 5015-A and submitting the bond required by subsection 5.
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
4. Content of renewal application. A renewal application pursuant to subsection 3 must contain the following information:
A. The annual fund-raising activity report required by section 5008-B; [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
B. Disclosure of, and the final disposition document pertaining to, any disciplinary action taken against the licensee by a licensing, registration or regulatory authority in any jurisdiction since the date of the most recent application submitted by the professional solicitor; [PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
C. Disclosure of, and the final disposition document pertaining to, any court action taken against the licensee by a licensing, registration or regulatory authority or law enforcement agency in any jurisdiction that resulted in a restraining order, injunction, civil judgment, criminal conviction, consent judgment, consent agreement, agreement to pay restitution or investigative costs or any other type of negotiated disposition since the date of the most recent application submitted by the professional solicitor; [PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
D. Any changes to the information contained in the licensee's application for initial licensure or the most recent renewal application; and [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
E. Other information as the director may require. [PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
5. Bonding of professional solicitors. An applicant for initial or renewal licensure as a professional solicitor shall submit with the application a bond approved by the director in which the professional solicitor is the principal obligor and the State the obligee, in the sum of $25,000, with one or more responsible sureties whose liability in the aggregate at least equals that sum. The bond runs to any person or entity who may have a cause of action against the principal obligor of the bond for any malfeasance or misfeasance in the conduct of charitable solicitation in this State that occurs during the term of the license applied for. The bond remains in place for 5 years after the licensee ceases activity in the State. Notwithstanding this provision, the director may permit the bond to be eliminated prior to that date.
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
6. Late renewal. A license may be renewed up to 90 days after the date of its expiration upon payment of a late fee in addition to the renewal fee as set under section 5015-A.
[PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW).]
7. Change of information. As an ongoing condition of licensure, a professional solicitor must notify the director of a change to the information contained in the licensee's application for initial or renewal licensure, including any additional disciplinary or court action taken against the licensee, within 10 days of the change.
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
8. Records. A professional solicitor shall maintain accurate and complete books and records of fund-raising activities and telephone solicitation scripts and shall keep those books and records available for inspection by or production to the Attorney General or the director for a period of 3 years after the conclusion of each specific instance in which that person or entity acts as a professional solicitor.
[PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2013, c. 313, §17 (NEW). PL 2013, c. 539, §13 (AMD).