<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gfi" article_name="Financial Institutions" number="12-926" title_number="12" title_name="Miscellaneous Institutions and Activities" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Maryland Debt Management Services Act">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and subject to the hearing provisions of § 12-927 of this subtitle, the Commissioner may deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke the license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee or an owner, officer, director, or principal of the applicant or licensee:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Fraudulently or deceptively obtains or attempts to obtain a license;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Fraudulently or deceptively uses a license or debt management services license number;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Presents or attempts to present the debt management services license number of another licensee as the applicant’s or licensee’s debt management services license number;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Violates any provision of this subtitle or any regulation adopted under this subtitle;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Is convicted under the laws of the United States or of any state of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A felony; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A misdemeanor that is directly related to the fitness and qualification of the applicant or licensee to engage in the business of providing debt management services;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>In connection with the provision of debt management services:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Commits a fraud;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Engages in an illegal or dishonest activity;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Has engaged or participated in an unsafe or unsound act; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Misrepresents or fails to disclose a material fact to a person entitled to that information;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Engages in false, misleading, or deceptive advertising; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>Otherwise demonstrates unworthiness, bad faith, dishonesty, or any other quality that indicates that the business of the applicant or licensee has not been or will not be conducted honestly, fairly, and equitably.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In determining whether to deny a license to an applicant, reprimand a licensee, or suspend or revoke the license of a licensee for a reason listed in subsection (a)(5) of this section, the Commissioner shall consider:</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 the license;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>With respect to a felony, the relevance of the conviction to the fitness and qualification of the applicant or licensee to provide debt management services;</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 or licensee since the conviction.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Subject to the hearing provisions of § 12-927 of this subtitle, the Commissioner shall deny a license to an applicant and suspend or revoke the license of a licensee if the applicant or licensee or an owner, officer, director, or principal of the applicant or licensee has:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Committed a violation of subsection (a) of this section that directly results in property damage or monetary loss by any other person; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Has not restored the property or money to the person or paid the value of the property to the person.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
