* § 25.31. Suspension or revocation of licenses. 1. Powers of department of state. The department of state may deny an application or may revoke or suspend a license issued pursuant to this article, impose a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars per violation payable to the department of state, issue a reprimand and order restitution upon proof to the satisfaction of the secretary of state that the holder thereof has: (a) violated any provision of this article or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder; (b) made a material misstatement in the application for such license; (c) engaged in fraud or fraudulent practices; (d) demonstrated untrustworthiness or incompetency; or (e) been convicted of serious offense or misdemeanor which, in the discretion of the secretary, bears such a relationship to licensure as to constitute a bar to licensure or renewal.

2. Determination of department of state. In the event that the department of state shall revoke or suspend any such license, or impose any fine or reprimand on the holder thereof, its determination shall be in writing and officially signed. The original of such determination, when so signed, shall be filed with the department of state and copies thereof shall be served personally or by certified mail upon the licensee or applicant and addressed to the principal place of business of such licensee.

3. No license shall be suspended or revoked nor shall any fine or reprimand be imposed, nor shall any application be denied, until after an opportunity for a hearing had before an officer or employee of the department of state designated for such purpose by the secretary of state upon notice to the licensee or applicant of at least ten days. The notice shall be served by certified mail and shall state the date and place of hearing and set forth the ground or grounds constituting the charges against the licensee or the reasons for the proposed denial of the application. The licensee or applicant shall have the opportunity to be heard in his or her defense either in person or by counsel and may produce witnesses and testify on his or her behalf. A stenographic record of the hearing shall be taken and preserved. The hearing may be adjourned from time to time. The person conducting the hearing shall make a written report of his or her findings and a recommendation to the secretary of state for decision. The secretary of state shall review such findings and the recommendation and, after due deliberation, shall issue an order accepting, modifying or rejecting such recommendation and dismissing the charges or suspending or revoking the license or imposing a fine or reprimand upon the licensee. For the purpose of this article, the secretary of state or any officer or employee of the department of state designated by him or her, may administer oaths, take testimony, subpoena witnesses and compel the production of books, papers, records and documents deemed pertinent to the subject of investigation.

* NB Repealed July 1, 2022