(A) The director of public safety may investigate any applicant for a class A, B, or C license, any principal officer or qualifying agent of a corporation who is specified in an application for licensure as satisfying the requirements of divisions (A)(1) and (F)(1) of section 4749.03 of the Revised Code, and any employee of a class A, B, or C licensee who seeks to be registered under section 4749.06 of the Revised Code to determine whether the individual satisfies the applicable requirements for licensure or registration.

(B) The director may investigate, on the director's own initiative, the actions or proposed actions of a class A, B, or C licensee, or registered employee of a class A, B, or C licensee to determine whether the person is, has been, or will be in violation of section 4749.13 of the Revised Code. The director shall investigate any of these persons if a verified written complaint is filed indicating that a person has violated, or is or will be violating, section 4749.13 of the Revised Code; the complaint is supported by evidence submitted with it; and the director determines that a prima-facie case exists that a violation of that section is being, has been, or will be committed by the person.

(C) The director may investigate, on the director's own initiative, the actions or proposed actions of a person who is not licensed or registered under this chapter and who appears to be acting as a class A, B, or C licensee, or employee of a class A, B, or C licensee. The director shall investigate such a person if a verified written complaint is filed indicating that a person was, is, or will be acting as a class A, B, or C licensee or employee of a class A, B, or C licensee but is not licensed or registered as such under this chapter; the complaint is supported by evidence that is submitted with it; and the director determines that a prima-facie case exists that the person was, is, or will be acting in the alleged manner.

(D) In connection with investigations under divisions (B) and (C) of this section, the director may file an action with the court of common pleas of Franklin county or the court of common pleas of the county in which the person who is the subject of the investigation resides, is engaging in actions, or proposing to engage in actions, to obtain an injunction, restraining order, or other appropriate relief.

(E) The director may compel by subpoena witnesses to appear and testify in relation to investigations under this chapter and may require by subpoena duces tecum the production of any book, paper, or document pertaining to an investigation. If a person does not comply with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum, the director may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county for an order compelling the person to comply with the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum or, for failure to do so, to be held in contempt of court.

(F) If, in an investigation under division (C) of this section, the director determines that a person is not a class A, B, or C licensee, or a registered employee of a class A, B, or C licensee, and that the person was, is, or will be acting in the alleged manner, the director may issue an order to the person to show cause why the person should not be subject to licensing or registration under this chapter. The director shall hold a hearing on the order, and if following the hearing the director determines that the person has engaged, or is or will be engaging, in activities requiring licensure or registration under this chapter, the director may issue a cease and desist order that shall describe the person and the activities that are the subject of it. The cease and desist order is enforceable in and may be appealed to a court of common pleas pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(G) In any proceeding or action brought under this chapter, the burden of proving an exemption from the licensure requirements of this chapter is on the person claiming the benefit of the exemption.

Effective Date: 10-12-1994; 07-01-2004 .