Sec. 157.024. DISCIPLINARY ACTION; CEASE AND DESIST ORDER. (a) The commissioner may order disciplinary action against a licensed residential mortgage loan originator when the commissioner, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, has determined that the person:

(1) obtained a license, including a renewal of a license, under this chapter through a false or fraudulent representation or made a material misrepresentation in an application for a license or for the renewal of a license under this chapter;

(2) published or caused to be published an advertisement related to the business of a residential mortgage loan originator that:

(A) was misleading;

(B) was likely to deceive the public;

(C) in any manner tended to create a misleading impression;

(D) failed to identify as a licensed residential mortgage loan originator the person causing the advertisement to be published; or

(E) violated federal or state law;

(3) while performing an act for which a license under this chapter or Chapter 156 is required, engaged in conduct that constitutes improper, fraudulent, or dishonest dealings;

(4) entered a plea of nolo contendere to or was convicted of a criminal offense that is a felony or that involves fraud or moral turpitude in a court of this or another state or in a federal court;

(5) failed to use a fee collected in advance of closing a residential mortgage loan for a purpose for which the fee was paid;

(6) failed within a reasonable time to honor a credit card charge back or a check issued to the commissioner after the commissioner mailed a request for payment, including any applicable fees, by mail to the person's last known home address as reflected in the commissioner's records;

(7) induced or attempted to induce a party to a contract to breach the contract so the person could make a residential mortgage loan;

(8) published or circulated an unjustified or unwarranted threat of legal proceedings in matters related to the person's actions or services as a licensed residential mortgage loan originator;

(9) aided, abetted, or conspired with a person to circumvent the requirements of this chapter or Chapter 156;

(10) acted in the dual capacity of a licensed residential mortgage loan originator and real estate broker, salesperson, or attorney in a transaction without the knowledge and written consent of the mortgage applicant or in violation of applicable requirements under federal law;

(11) discriminated against a prospective borrower on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, familial status, or disability;

(12) failed or refused on demand to:

(A) produce a document, book, or record concerning a residential mortgage loan transaction conducted by the licensed residential mortgage loan originator for inspection by the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized personnel or representative;

(B) give the commissioner or the commissioner's authorized personnel or representative free access to the books or records relating to the residential mortgage loan originator's business kept by any other person or any business entity through which the residential mortgage loan originator conducts residential mortgage loan origination activities; or

(C) provide information requested by the commissioner as a result of a formal or informal complaint made to the commissioner;

(13) failed without just cause to surrender, on demand, a copy of a document or other instrument coming into the residential mortgage loan originator's possession that was provided to the residential mortgage loan originator by another person making the demand or that the person making the demand is under law entitled to receive;

(14) disregarded or violated this chapter, Chapter 156, a rule adopted under this chapter or Chapter 156, or an order issued by the commissioner under this chapter or Chapter 156;

(15) provided false information to the commissioner during the course of an investigation or inspection;

(16) paid compensation to a person who is not licensed or exempt under this chapter for acts for which a license under this chapter or Chapter 156 is required;

(17) established an association, by employment or otherwise, with a person not licensed, registered, or exempt under this chapter or Chapter 156 who was expected or required to act as a residential mortgage loan originator or residential mortgage loan company; or

(18) charged or received, directly or indirectly, a fee for assisting a mortgage applicant in obtaining a residential mortgage loan under Chapter 156 before all of the services that the person agreed to perform for the mortgage applicant are completed, and the proceeds of the residential mortgage loan have been disbursed to or on behalf of the mortgage applicant, except as provided by Section 156.304.

(b) The commissioner may also order disciplinary action against a licensed residential mortgage loan originator, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, if the commissioner, during the current term of the license, becomes aware of any fact that would have been grounds for denial of an original license if the fact had been known by the commissioner on the date the license was granted.

(c) In addition to disciplinary action by the commissioner authorized under Subsections (a) and (b), the commissioner, if the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that a licensed residential mortgage loan originator has violated or is about to violate this section, may issue without notice and hearing an order to cease and desist continuing a particular action or an order to take affirmative action, or both, to enforce compliance with this chapter.

(d) An order issued under Subsection (c) must contain a reasonably detailed statement of the facts on which the order is made. If a residential mortgage loan originator against whom the order is made requests a hearing, the commissioner shall set and give notice of a hearing before the commissioner or an administrative law judge. The hearing shall be governed by Chapter 2001, Government Code. Based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommendations of the administrative law judge, the commissioner by order may find that a violation has occurred or not occurred.

(e) If a hearing is not requested under Subsection (d) not later than the 30th day after the date on which an order is made, the order is considered final and not appealable.

(f) The commissioner, after giving notice, may impose against a residential mortgage loan originator who violates a cease and desist order an administrative penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day of the violation. In addition to any other remedy provided by law, the commissioner may institute in district court a suit for injunctive relief and to collect the administrative penalty. A bond is not required of the commissioner with respect to injunctive relief granted under this subsection.

(g) For purposes of Subsection (a), a residential mortgage loan originator is considered convicted if a sentence is imposed on that person, that person receives community supervision, including deferred adjudication community supervision, or the court defers final disposition of that person's case.

(h) If a residential mortgage loan originator fails to pay an administrative penalty that has become final or fails to comply with an order of the commissioner that has become final, in addition to any other remedy provided under law, the commissioner, on not less than 10 days' notice to the residential mortgage loan originator, may without a prior hearing suspend the residential mortgage loan originator's license. The suspension continues until the residential mortgage loan originator has complied with the administrative order or paid the administrative penalty. During the period of suspension, the residential mortgage loan originator may not originate a residential mortgage loan and all compensation received by the residential mortgage loan originator during the period of suspension is subject to forfeiture as provided by Section 157.031(a-1).

(i) An order of suspension under Subsection (h) may be appealed. An appeal is a contested case governed by Chapter 2001, Government Code. A hearing of an appeal of an order of suspension issued under Subsection (h) shall be held not later than the 15th day after the date of receipt of the notice of appeal. The appellant shall be provided at least three days' notice of the time and place of the hearing.

(j) An order revoking the license of a residential mortgage loan originator may provide that the person is prohibited, without previously obtaining written consent of the commissioner, from:

(1) engaging in the business of originating or making residential mortgage loans;

(2) otherwise affiliating with a person for the purpose of engaging in the business of originating or making residential mortgage loans; and

(3) being an employee, officer, director, manager, shareholder, member, agent, contractor, or processor of a mortgage banker, residential mortgage loan company, or residential mortgage loan originator for a residential mortgage loan company.

(k) On notice and opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner may suspend the license of a residential mortgage loan originator under this chapter if an indictment or information is filed or returned alleging that the person committed a criminal offense involving fraud, theft, or dishonesty. The suspension continues until the criminal case is dismissed or the person is acquitted.

(l) The commissioner may, in the commissioner's discretion, rescind or vacate any previously issued order.

Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1147 (H.B. 2779), Sec. 8, eff. April 1, 2010.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 655 (S.B. 1124), Sec. 58, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 160 (S.B. 1004), Sec. 75, eff. September 1, 2013.