Section 7-1-707. Suspension or revocation of license or registration

   (a) The department may suspend or revoke any license or registration issued pursuant to this article if:

   (1) It shall find that the licensee or registrant has:

      (A) Committed any fraud, engaged in any dishonest activities, or made any misrepresentation;

      (B) Violated any provisions of the banking law or any regulation issued pursuant thereto or has violated any other law in the course of its, his, or her dealings as a licensed or registered casher of checks;

      (C) Made a false statement in the application for such license or registration or failed to give a true reply to a question in such application;

      (D) Demonstrated his, her, or its incompetency or untrustworthiness to act as a licensed or registered casher of checks;

      (E) Purposely withheld, deleted, destroyed, or altered information requested by an examiner of the department or made false statements or material misrepresentations to the department; or

      (F) Charged check-cashing fees, exclusive of direct costs of verification, in unconscionable amounts which do not adequately reflect:

         (i) The level of risk associated with the cashing of checks of a particular class using ordinary prudence and commercially reasonable standards of identification and acceptance;

         (ii) The cost of funds necessary to operate a check-cashing business; and

         (iii) The extraordinary costs for security safeguards associated with the business location of the licensee or registrant; or

   (2) It shall find that any ground or grounds exist which would require or warrant the refusal of an application for the issuance of the license if such an application were then before it.

(b) Notice of the department's intention to enter an order denying an application for a license or registration under this article or of an order suspending or revoking a license or registration under this article shall be given to the applicant, licensee, or registrant, in writing, sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery addressed to the principal place of business of such applicant, licensee, or registrant. Within 20 days of the date of the notice of intention to enter an order of denial, suspension, or revocation under this article, the applicant, licensee, or registrant may request in writing a hearing to contest the order. If a hearing is not requested in writing within 20 days of the date of such notice of intention, the department shall enter a final order regarding the denial, suspension, or revocation. Any final order of the department denying, suspending, or revoking a license or registration shall state the grounds upon which it is based and shall be effective on the date of issuance. A copy thereof shall be forwarded promptly by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery addressed to the principal place of business of such applicant, licensee, or registrant. If a person refuses to accept service of the notice or order by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, the notice or order shall be served by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized representative under any other method of lawful service; and the person shall be personally liable to the commissioner for a sum equal to the actual costs incurred to serve the notice or order. This liability shall be paid upon notice and demand by the commissioner or the commissioner's representative and shall be assessed and collected in the same manner as other fees or fines administered by the commissioner.

(c) A decision of the department denying a license or registration, original or renewal, shall be conclusive, except that it may be subject to judicial review under Code Section 7-1-90. A decision of the department suspending or revoking a license or registration shall be subject to judicial review in the same manner as a decision of the department to take possession of the assets and business of a bank under Code Section 7-1-155.

(d) The provisions of this Code section shall not apply when a license is denied or suspended as provided in Code Section 7-1-707.1.

(e) (1) Whenever it shall appear to the department that any person has violated any law of this state or any order or regulation of the department under this article, the department may issue an initial written order requiring such person to cease and desist immediately from such unauthorized practices. Such cease and desist order shall be final 20 days after it is issued unless the person to whom it is issued makes a written request within such 20 day period for a hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." A cease and desist order to an unlicensed or unregistered person that orders such person to cease doing a check-cashing business without the appropriate license or registration shall be final 30 days from the date of issuance, and there shall be no opportunity for an administrative hearing. If the proper license or registration or evidence of exemption is obtained within the 30 day period, the order shall be rescinded by the department. Any cease and desist order sent to the person at both his or her personal and business addresses pursuant to this Code section that is returned to the department as "refused" or "unclaimed" shall be deemed as received and sufficiently served.

   (2) Whenever a person shall fail to comply with the terms of an order of the department which has been properly issued under the circumstances, the department, upon notice of three days to such person, may, through the Attorney General, petition the principal court for an order directing such person to obey the order of the department within the period of time as shall be fixed by the court. Upon the filing of such petition, the court shall allow a motion to show cause why it should not be granted. Whenever, after a hearing upon the merits or after failure of such person to appear when ordered, it shall appear that the order of the department was properly issued, the court shall grant the petition of the department.

   (3) Any person who violates the terms of any order issued pursuant to this Code section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.00. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. In determining the amount of penalty, the department shall take into account the appropriateness of the penalty relative to the size of the financial resources of such person, the good faith efforts of such person to comply with the order, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations by such person, and such other factors or circumstances as shall have contributed to the violation. The department may at its discretion compromise, modify, or refund any penalty which is subject to imposition or has been imposed pursuant to this Code section. Any person assessed as provided in this subsection shall have the right to request a hearing into the matter within ten days after notification of the assessment has been served upon the licensee or registrant involved; otherwise, such penalty shall be final except as to judicial review as provided in Code Section 7-1-90.

   (4) Initial judicial review of the decision of the department entered pursuant to this Code section shall be available solely in the superior court of the county of domicile of the department.

   (5) For purposes of this Code section, the term "person" includes an individual, any entity required to be licensed or registered, licensees, registrants, or an officer, director, employee, agent, or other person participating in the conduct of the affairs of the person subject to the orders issued pursuant to this Code section.

   (6) In addition to any other administrative penalties authorized by this article, the department may, by regulation, prescribe administrative fines for violations of this article and of any rules promulgated by the department pursuant to this article.

Code 1981, § 7-1-707, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 739, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 94, § 7; Ga. L. 1998, p. 1094, § 2; Ga. L. 2000, p. 174, § 20; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1589, § 3; Ga. L. 2007, p. 502, § 31/SB 70.