Section 5-18A-11 Maintenance of Business Records; Notice of Intent to Conduct Business in Conjunction with Other Business; Examination of Place of Business.
AI-assisted research summary: Licensees must keep separate records, give 15 days’ written notice before operating alongside other businesses in the same premises (with stated exceptions), preserve records for two years, and pay an examination fee when examined by the supervisor.
(a) Each licensee shall keep and use in its business any books, accounts, and records that the supervisor may require to carry into effect this chapter and the administrative regulations issued hereunder. If a licensee operates any other business licensed by the department, a deferred presentment services business shall be accounted for separately from any other business licensed by the department. Each licensed business shall maintain separate business records. (b) No licensee shall conduct the business of making deferred presentment transactions under this chapter within any office, suite, room, or place of business in which any other business except check cashing or a business conducted pursuant to Chapter 19A is solicited or engaged in or in association or conjunction with any other business until 15 days’ written notice of an intention to do so has been given the supervisor. Upon receipt of written notification, the supervisor may investigate the facts and, if he or she finds that the character of the licensee and the nature of the other business warrant belief that such conduct of business would conceal violation or evasion of this chapter or of regulations lawfully made hereunder, he or she shall enter an order directing the licensee to discontinue the other business. The order shall be entered in the manner specified in and subject to the provisions of Section 5-18A-7. (c) For the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter, the supervisor may, at any reasonable time, cause an examination to be made at the licensee’s place of business of the records and transactions of such licensee. As cost of examination, the licensee shall pay to the supervisor an examination fee as provided in Section 5-2A-24, which fee shall be collected and paid into the special fund as provided by Section 5-2A-20, and shall be used in the supervision and examination of licensees. Each licensee shall preserve all relevant records for a period of two years after making the last entry on any transaction, and the supervisor shall have free access thereto at the licensee’s place of business at all reasonable times. If the supervisor has probable cause to believe that a licensee has engaged in an activity which violates the provisions of this chapter, the supervisor may compel the production of such books and records of the person as he or she has probable cause to believe are relevant to the alleged violation. Any action arising out of any investigation or examination shall be in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County or in the county of the principal place of business of the licensee.