<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gbr" article_name="Business Regulation" number="5-310" title_number="5" title_name="Cemeteries" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Registration">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Subject to the hearing provisions of § 5–312 of this subtitle, the Director may deny a registration or permit to an applicant, reprimand a person subject to the registration or permit provisions of this title, or suspend or revoke a registration or permit if an applicant, registrant, or permit holder, or an agent, employee, officer, director, or partner of the applicant, registrant, or permit holder:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a registration or permit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>fraudulently or deceptively uses a registration or permit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>under the laws of the United States or of any state, is convicted of a:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>felony; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>misdemeanor that is directly related to the fitness and qualifications of the applicant, registrant, or permit holder to own or operate a cemetery or provide burial goods;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>fails to provide or misrepresents any information required to be provided under this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>violates this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>violates the code of ethics adopted by the Director;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>violates a regulation adopted under this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>fails to provide reasonable and adequate supervision of the operation of the cemetery or the provision of burial goods by agents, employees, officers, directors, or partners affiliated with a cemetery or burial goods business;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>refuses to allow an inspection required by this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>fails to comply with an order of the Director;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>fails to comply with any terms of settlement under a binding arbitration agreement;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>is found guilty by a court in this State of violating an unfair, abusive, or deceptive trade practices provision under Title 13 of the Commercial Law Article; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>fails to comply with § 5–513 of the Health – General Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a person is charged with a violation of this title that could result in suspension or revocation of a registration or permit, the Director may seek an immediate restraining order in a circuit court in this State to prohibit the person from engaging in the operation of any cemetery or burial goods business.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The restraining order is in effect until:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the court lifts the order; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the charges are adjudicated or dismissed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>If a person is charged with a violation of this title that could result in suspension or revocation of a registration or permit, the Director may petition a court to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>appoint a receiver or trustee to take charge of the assets and operate the business of the person in the event that the registration or permit is suspended or revoked; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>take any actions as are appropriate to protect the public interest.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Instead of or in addition to reprimanding a person, or suspending or revoking a registration or permit, the Director may impose a civil penalty:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>not to exceed $5,000 for each violation of this title or an order of the Director under this title; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>not to exceed $500 for each day a violation continues past the time set for its correction.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>To determine the amount of the penalty imposed under this subsection, the Director shall consider:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the seriousness of the violation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the harm caused by the violation;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>the good faith efforts of the person; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>any history of previous violations by the person.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Any civil penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the General Fund of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The Director shall consider the following facts in the granting, denial, renewal, suspension, or revocation of a registration or permit or the reprimand of a registrant or permit holder when an applicant, registrant, or permit holder, or an agent, employee, officer, director, or partner of an applicant, registrant, or permit holder is convicted of a felony or misdemeanor described in subsection (a)(3) of this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the nature of the crime;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the relationship of the crime to the activities authorized by this title;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>with respect to a felony, the relevance of the conviction to the fitness and qualifications of the applicant, registrant, or permit holder, or agent, employee, officer, director, or partner to operate a cemetery or provide burial goods;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>the length of time since the conviction; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>the behavior and activities of the applicant, registrant, or permit holder, or any agent, employee, officer, director, or partner before and after the conviction.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
