(815 ILCS 121/135)

Sec. 135. Suspension; revocation of licenses; fines.

(a) Upon written notice to a licensee, the Secretary may suspend or revoke any license issued pursuant to this Act if, in the notice, he or she makes a finding of one or more of the following:

(1) that through separate acts or an act or a course of conduct, the licensee has violated any provisions of this Act, any rule adopted by the Department, or any other law, rule, or regulation of this State or the United States;

(2) that any fact or condition exists that, if it had existed at the time of the original application for the license, would have warranted the Secretary in refusing originally to issue the license; or

(3) that if a licensee is other than an individual, any ultimate equitable owner, officer, director, or member of the licensed partnership, association, corporation, or other entity has acted or failed to act in a way that would be cause for suspending or revoking a license to that party as an individual.

(b) No license shall be suspended or revoked, except as provided in this Section, nor shall any licensee be fined without notice of his or her right to a hearing as provided in subsection (n).

(c) The Secretary, on good cause shown that an emergency exists, may suspend any license for a period not exceeding 180 days, pending investigation.

(d) The provisions of subsection (d) of Section 95 shall not affect a licensee's civil or criminal liability for acts committed before surrender of a license.

(e) No revocation, suspension, or surrender of any license shall impair or affect the obligation of any preexisting lawful contract between the licensee and any person.

(f) Every license issued under this Act shall remain in force and effect until the license expires without renewal, is surrendered, is revoked, or is suspended in accordance with the provisions of this Act, but the Secretary shall have authority to reinstate a suspended license or to issue a new license to a licensee whose license has been revoked if no fact or condition then exists which would have warranted the Secretary in refusing originally to issue that license under this Act.

(g) Whenever the Secretary revokes or suspends a license issued pursuant to this Act or fines a licensee under this Act, he or she shall execute a written order to that effect. The Secretary shall serve a copy of the order upon the licensee. Any such order may be reviewed in the manner provided by Section 170.

(h) If the Secretary finds any person in violation of the grounds set forth in subsection (p), he or she may enter an order imposing one or more of the following penalties:

(1) revocation of license;

(2) suspension of a license subject to reinstatement upon satisfying all reasonable conditions the Secretary may specify;

(3) placement of the licensee or applicant on probation for a period of time and subject to all reasonable conditions as the Secretary may specify;

(4) issuance of a reprimand;

(5) imposition of a fine not to exceed $25,000 for each count of separate offense; except that a fine may be imposed that shall not exceed $75,000 for each separate count of offense in violation of paragraph (2) of subsection (i);

(6) denial of a license; or

(7) restitution for the benefit of consumers.

(i) The Secretary may, after 10 days' notice by certified mail to the licensee at the address set forth in the license stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds therefor, fine the licensee an amount not exceeding $10,000 per violation or revoke or suspend any license issued under this Act if he or she finds that:

(1) the licensee has failed to comply with any provision of this Act, any rule adopted pursuant to this Act, or any order, decision, finding, or direction of the Secretary lawfully made pursuant to the authority of this Act; or

(2) any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for the license, clearly would have warranted the Secretary in refusing to issue the license.

(j) The Secretary may fine, suspend, or revoke only the particular license with respect to which grounds for the fine, revocation, or suspension occur or exist, but if the Secretary finds that grounds for revocation are of general application to all offices or to more than one office of the licensee, the Secretary shall fine, suspend, or revoke every license to which the grounds apply.

(k) No revocation, suspension, or surrender of any license shall impair or affect the obligation of any preexisting lawful contract between the licensee and any obligor.

(l) The Secretary may issue a new license to a licensee whose license has been revoked when facts or conditions which clearly would have warranted the Secretary in refusing originally to issue the license no longer exist.

(m) In every case in which a license is suspended or revoked or an application for a license or renewal of a license is denied, the Secretary shall serve the licensee with notice of his or her action, including a statement of the reasons for his or her actions, either personally or by certified mail. Service by certified mail shall be deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail.

(n) An order assessing a fine, an order revoking or suspending a license, or an order denying renewal of a license shall take effect upon service of the order unless the licensee requests a hearing, in writing, within 10 days after the date of service. If a hearing is requested, the order shall be stayed until a final administrative order is entered.

(1) If the licensee requests a hearing, the Secretary shall schedule a hearing within 30 days after the request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

(2) The hearing shall be held at the time and place designated by the Secretary. The Secretary and any administrative law judge designated by him or her shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of books, papers, correspondence, and other records or information that he or she considers relevant or material to the inquiry.

(o) The costs of administrative hearings conducted pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the licensee.

(p) The following acts shall constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions specified in subsection (h) may be taken:

(1) being convicted or found guilty, regardless of pendency of an appeal, of a crime in any jurisdiction that involves fraud, dishonest dealing, or any other act of moral turpitude;

(2) fraud, misrepresentation, deceit, or negligence in any relation to any consumer legal funding;

(3) a material or intentional misstatement of fact on an initial or renewal application;

(4) insolvency or filing under any provision of the United States Bankruptcy Code as a debtor;

(5) failure to account or deliver to any person any property, such as any money, fund, deposit, check, draft, or other document or thing of value, that has come into his or her hands and that is not his or her property or that he or she is not in law or equity entitled to retain, under the circumstances and at the time which has been agreed upon or is required by law, or, in the absence of a fixed time, upon demand of the person entitled to such accounting and delivery;

(6) failure to disburse funds in accordance with agreements;

(7) having a license, or the equivalent, to practice any profession or occupation revoked, suspended, or otherwise acted against, including the denial of licensure by a licensing authority of this State or another state, territory, or country, for fraud, dishonest dealing, or any other act of moral turpitude;

(8) failure to comply with an order of the Secretary or rule adopted under the provisions of this Act;

(9) engaging in activities regulated by this Act without a current, active license unless specifically exempted by this Act;

(10) failure to pay in a timely manner any fee, charge, or fine under this Act;

(11) failure to maintain, preserve, and keep available for examination all books, accounts, or other documents required by the provisions of this Act and the rules of the Department;

(12) refusing, obstructing, evading, or unreasonably delaying an investigation, information request, or examination authorized under this Act, or refusing, obstructing, evading, or unreasonably delaying compliance with the Secretary's subpoena or subpoena duces tecum;

(13) failure to comply with or a violation of any provision of this Act; and

(14) any unfair, deceptive, or abusive business practice.

(q) A licensee shall be subject to the disciplinary actions specified in this Act for violations of subsection (i) by any officer, director, shareholder, joint venture, partner, ultimate equitable owner, or employee of the licensee.

(r) A licensee shall be subject to suspension or revocation for unauthorized employee actions only if there is a pattern of repeated violations by employees, the licensee has knowledge of the violations, or there is substantial harm to a consumer. A licensee may be subject to fine for employee actions, whether authorized or unauthorized, whether there is a pattern of repeated violations or no pattern of repeated violations.

(s) Any licensee may submit an application to surrender a license, but, upon the Secretary approving the surrender, it shall not affect the licensee's civil or criminal liability for acts committed before surrender or entitle the licensee to a return of any part of the license fee.

(Source: P.A. 102-987, eff. 5-27-22.)