Section 10-14-9. Amendment of registration application; state audit of records; change of ownership

   (a) A registration application may be amended by filing with the Secretary of State an amended application signed by the persons required to sign the original application under Code Section 10-14-4 or 10-14-5.

(b) Every applicant registered pursuant to Code Section 10-14-4 or 10-14-5 shall agree to deliver in Georgia, on demand of the Secretary of State, all records and documents concerning funds, accounts, transactions, and activities of said applicant or said applicant shall agree to pay the expenses incurred in sending an auditor approved by the Secretary of State to wherever such records and documents are located for the purpose of conducting an audit pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

(c) When any cemetery or preneed dealer registered under Code Section 10-14-4 is sold or the ownership is otherwise transferred, or a controlling interest is sold or transferred, the vendor or the transferor of such cemetery, preneed dealer, or interest shall remain liable for any funds that should have been deposited prior to the date of such sale or transfer in the perpetual care trust fund or the preneed escrow account, or both.

   (1) Prior to such sale or transfer, the vendor or transferor shall notify the Secretary of State of the proposed transfer and submit to the Secretary of State any document or record the Secretary of State may require in order to demonstrate that said vendor or transferor is not indebted to the perpetual care trust fund or the preneed escrow account, or both. After the transfer of ownership or control and the presentation of proof of currency of the perpetual care trust fund or the preneed escrow account, or both, by the vendor or transferor, the Secretary of State may require the presentation of proof of the continued current status of the perpetual care trust fund or the preneed escrow account, or both, by the vendee or transferee. The Secretary of State is authorized to recover from such vendor, transferor, vendee, or transferee, for the benefit of the perpetual care trust fund or the preneed escrow account, or both, all sums which the vendor, transferor, vendee, or transferee has not properly accounted for and paid into the trust fund.

   (2) When the vendee or transferee has complied with the provisions of this subsection, he or she shall submit to the Secretary of State an application for registration and appropriate fees pursuant to Code Section 10-14-4. The Secretary of State shall then issue a certificate of registration to said vendee or transferee.

Code 1981, § 44-3-135, enacted by Ga. L. 1983, p. 1508, § 1; Ga. L. 1984, p. 22, § 44; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1468, §§ 7, 8; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 44; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2397, § 1; Code 1981, § 10-14-9, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2000, p. 882, § 1.