Sec. 154.114. FINAL SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF A PERMIT. (a) The comptroller may suspend or revoke a person's permit if the comptroller finds, after notice and hearing as provided by this section, that the permit holder violated this chapter or an administrative rule made under this chapter.

(b) If the comptroller intends to suspend or revoke a permit, the comptroller shall provide the permit holder with written notice that includes a statement:

(1) of the reason for the intended revocation or suspension;

(2) that the permit holder is entitled to a hearing by the comptroller on the proposed suspension or revocation of the permit; and

(3) of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

(c) The comptroller shall deliver the written notice by personal service or by mail to the permit holder's mailing address as it appears on the comptroller's records. Service by mail is complete when the notice is deposited with the U.S. Postal Service.

(d) The comptroller shall give the permit holder not less than 10 days' notice of a final hearing.

(e) A permit holder may appeal the decision of the comptroller to a district court in Travis County not later than the 30th day after the date the comptroller's decision becomes final.

(f) A person whose permit is suspended or revoked may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute cigarettes from the place of business to which the permit applied until a new permit is granted or the suspension is removed.

(g) If the comptroller suspends or revokes a permit, the comptroller shall provide written notice of the suspension or revocation, within a reasonable time, to each distributor and wholesaler permit holder in the state. A distributor or wholesaler permit holder violates Section 154.1015(a) by selling or distributing cigarettes to a person whose permit has been suspended or revoked only after the distributor or wholesaler permit holder receives written notice of the suspension or revocation from the comptroller.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1647, ch. 389, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 58, Sec. 9, eff. March 1, 1986; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 240, Sec. 25, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 409, Sec. 23, eff. June 7, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 1000, Sec. 40, eff. Oct. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1423, Sec. 19.39, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1467, Sec. 2.39, eff. Oct. 1, 1999.