31-1-712. License revocation or suspension -- restitution -- penalty. (1) The department shall provide a 10-day written notice of a proposed violation that includes a statement of the alleged violation and provision for a hearing or an opportunity for hearing, as provided in the Montana Administrative Procedure Act. The notice must be based on a finding that any person, licensee, or officer, agent, employee, or representative, whether licensed or unlicensed, of the person or licensee has violated any of the provisions of this part, has failed to comply with the rules, regulations, instructions, or orders promulgated by the department, has failed or refused to make required reports to the department, has furnished false information to the department, or has operated without a required license. The department may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each violation and not to exceed $5,000 for each administrative action and may issue an order revoking or suspending the right of the person or licensee, directly or through an officer, agent, employee, or representative, to do business in this state as a licensee or to engage in the business of making deferred deposit loans. In addition, the department may order restitution to borrowers and reimbursement for the department's cost in bringing the administrative action.
     (2) All notices, hearing schedules, and orders must be mailed to the person or licensee by certified mail to the address for which the license was issued or, in the case of an unlicensed business, to the last-known address of record.
     (3) A revocation, suspension, or surrender of a license does not relieve the licensee from civil or criminal liability for acts committed prior to the revocation, suspension, or surrender of the license.
     (4) The department may reinstate any suspended or revoked license if there is not a fact or condition existing at the time of reinstatement that would have justified the department's refusal to originally issue the license. If a license has been suspended or revoked for cause, an application may not be made for the issuance of a new license or the reinstatement of a suspended or revoked license for a period of 6 months from the date of suspension or revocation.
     (5) All civil penalties collected pursuant to this section must be deposited in the state general fund.

     History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 404, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 221, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 451, L. 2007.