Sec. 4. (a) Every person other than:

(1) an individual who is a licensed auctioneer; or

(2) an individual who has a licensed auction house (until July 1, 2014);

who is seeking to operate as an auction company must obtain a license from the commission. Notwithstanding the fact that an individual who is a licensed auctioneer or (until July 1, 2014) an individual who has a licensed auction house also has an interest in an organization, every organization which seeks to operate an auction company must obtain a license for that auction company.

(b) An individual who holds an unexpired auction house license under IC 25-6.1-3-3 (before its repeal) may file with the commission a completed application for an auction company license on the form prescribed by the commission in rules adopted by the commission under IC 4-22-2. Upon the receipt of a completed application for an auction company license under this chapter, the commission shall examine the application and may verify the information contained in the application. Upon a determination by the commission that an application is complete and verified, the commission shall issue an auction company license, in a form it prescribes, to the applicant for a term equal to the remaining term of the unexpired auction house license. If an individual described in this subsection files a completed application for an auction company license before June 1, 2014, the commission shall determine whether the application is complete and verified before June 15, 2014. If the commission determines that the application is complete and verified, the commission shall issue the individual an auction company license before July 1, 2014.

(c) Every such person shall file with the commission a complete application on the form prescribed by the commission. Each application shall be accompanied by the license fee prescribed by section 5 of this chapter and a surcharge described in IC 25-6.1-8-2.

(d) Upon the receipt of a completed application for an initial or renewal license, the commission shall examine the application and may verify the information contained therein.

(e) Upon a determination by the commission that an application is complete and duly verified, the commission shall issue an auction company license, in such form as it may prescribe, to the applicant.

(f) Auction company licenses shall expire on a date established by the licensing agency under IC 25-1-6-4, and every fourth year thereafter.

(g) If the holder of an auction company license does not renew the license by the date established by the licensing agency, the license expires and becomes invalid without any action taken by the commission.

(h) The holder of an auction company license that has been expired for not more than four (4) years may have the license reinstated by meeting the requirements under IC 25-1-8-6(c).

(i) The holder of an auction company license that has been expired for more than four (4) years may have the license reinstated by satisfying the requirements for reinstatement under IC 25-1-8-6(d).

(j) Any individual who wishes to operate an auction company, and who is exempt under subsection (a) from obtaining an auction company license, shall, not more than thirty (30) days before the date on which the individual begins to operate an auction company, notify the commission, in a writing signed by the individual, that the individual is operating as an auction company or as more than one (1) auction company. The individual shall specify in such written notification the trade or business name, and the address of the principal place of business, of each auction company which the individual operates. Whenever an individual to whom this subsection applies shall discontinue the operation of an auction company operated by the individual, or shall change its address or trade or business name, the individual shall promptly notify the secretary of the commission of such discontinuance or change, in a writing signed by the individual.

As added by Acts 1977, P.L.270, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1980, P.L.163, SEC.7; P.L.3-1990, SEC.89; P.L.214-1993, SEC.16; P.L.23-2003, SEC.5; P.L.105-2008, SEC.18; P.L.59-2014, SEC.6; P.L.86-2018, SEC.198.