Section 10-5-37. Notice of termination

   (a) If an agent registered under this chapter terminates employment by or association with a broker-dealer or issuer or if an investment adviser representative registered under this chapter terminates employment by or association with an investment adviser or federal covered investment adviser or if either registrant terminates activities that require registration as an agent or investment adviser representative, the broker-dealer, issuer, investment adviser or federal covered investment adviser shall promptly file a notice of termination. If the registrant learns that the broker-dealer, issuer, investment adviser, or federal covered investment adviser has not filed the notice, the registrant may do so.

(b) If an agent registered under this chapter terminates employment by or association with a broker-dealer registered under this chapter and begins employment by or association with another broker-dealer registered under this chapter or if an investment adviser representative registered under this chapter terminates employment by or association with an investment adviser registered under this chapter or a federal covered investment adviser that has filed a notice under Code Section 10-5-34 and begins employment by or association with another investment adviser registered under this chapter or a federal covered investment adviser that has filed a notice under Code Section 10-5-34, then upon the filing by or on behalf of the registrant, within 30 days after the termination, of an application for registration that complies with the requirement of subsection (a) of Code Section 10-5-35 and payment of the filing fee required under Code Section 10-5-39, the registration of the agent or investment adviser representative is:

   (1) Immediately effective as of the date of the completed filing if the agent's Central Registration Depository record or successor record or the investment adviser representative's Investment Adviser Registration Depository record or successor record does not contain a new or amended disciplinary disclosure within the previous 12 months; or

   (2) Temporarily effective as of the date of the completed filing if the agent's Central Registration Depository record or successor record or the investment adviser representative's Investment Adviser Registration Depository record or successor record contains a new or amended disciplinary disclosure within the preceding 12 months.

(c) The Commissioner may withdraw a temporary registration if there are or were grounds for discipline as specified in Code Section 10-5-41 and the Commissioner does so within 30 days after the filing of the application. If the Commissioner does not withdraw the temporary registration within the 30 day period, registration becomes automatically effective on the thirty-first day after filing.

(d) The Commissioner may prevent the effectiveness of a transfer of an agent or investment adviser representative under subsection (b) of this Code section based on the public interest and the protection of investors.

(e) If the Commissioner determines that a registrant or applicant for registration is no longer in existence or has ceased to act as a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, or investment adviser representative or is the subject of an adjudication of incapacity or is subject to the control of a committee, conservator, or guardian or cannot reasonably be located, a rule adopted or order issued under this chapter may require the registration be canceled or terminated or the application denied. The Commissioner may reinstate a canceled or terminated registration, with or without hearing, and may make the registration retroactive.

Code 1981, § 10-5-37, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 381, § 1/SB 358.