A. Subject to Section 15(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78o(h)) or Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80b-18a), a rule adopted or order issued under this act may establish minimum financial requirements for broker-dealers registered or required to be registered under this act and investment advisers registered or required to be registered under this act.

B. Subject to Section 15(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78o(h)) or Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80b-18a), a broker-dealer registered or required to be registered under this act and an investment adviser registered or required to be registered under this act shall file such financial reports as are required by a rule adopted or order issued under this act. If the information contained in a record filed under this subsection is or becomes inaccurate or incomplete in a material respect, the registrant shall promptly file a correcting amendment.

C. Subject to Section 15(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78o(h)) or Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80b-18a):

1. A broker-dealer registered or required to be registered under this act and an investment adviser registered or required to be registered under this act shall make and maintain the accounts, correspondence, memoranda, papers, books, and other records as required by rule adopted or order issued under this act;

2. Broker-dealer records required to be maintained under paragraph 1 of this subsection may be maintained in any form of data storage acceptable under Section 17(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78q(a)) if they are readily accessible to the Administrator; and

3. Investment adviser records required to be maintained under paragraph 1 of this subsection may be maintained in any form of data storage required by rule adopted or order issued under this act.

D. The records of a broker-dealer registered or required to be registered under this act and an investment adviser registered or required to be registered under this act are subject to such reasonable periodic, special, or other audits or inspections by a representative of the Administrator, within or without this state, as the Administrator considers necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of investors. An audit or inspection may be made at any time and without prior notice. The Administrator may copy, and remove for audit or inspection copies of, all records the Administrator reasonably considers necessary or appropriate to conduct the audit or inspection. The Administrator may assess a reasonable charge for conducting an audit or inspection under this subsection.

E. Subject to Section 15(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78o(h)) or Section 222 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Section 80b-18a), an agent may not have custody of funds or securities of a customer except under the supervision of a broker-dealer and an investment adviser representative may not have custody of funds or securities of a client except under the supervision of an investment adviser or federal covered investment adviser. A rule adopted or order issued under this act may prohibit, limit, or impose conditions on a broker-dealer regarding custody of funds or securities of a customer and on an investment adviser regarding custody of securities or funds of a client.

F. With respect to an investment adviser registered or required to be registered under this act, a rule adopted or order issued under this act may require that information be furnished or disseminated to clients or prospective clients in this state as necessary or appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of investors and advisory clients.

G. A rule adopted or order issued under this act may require any individual registered under Section 19 or 21 of this act to participate in a continuing education program which is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and administered by a self-regulatory organization or, in the absence of such a program, a rule adopted or order issued under this act may require continuing education for an individual registered under Section 21 of this act.

Added by Laws 2003, c. 347, § 27, eff. July 1, 2004.