§6138. Authority of department.

(a) General authority.--The department shall have the authority to:

(1) Examine any instrument, document, account, book, record or file of a licensee or any person having a connection to the licensee or make other investigation as may be necessary to administer the provisions of this chapter. Pursuant to this authority, the department may remove any instrument, document, account, book, record or file of a licensee to a location outside of the licensee's office location. The costs of the examination shall be borne by the licensee or the entity subject to the examination.

(2) Conduct administrative hearings on any matter pertaining to this chapter, issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of instruments, documents, accounts, books and records at any hearing. The instruments, documents, accounts, books and records may be retained by the department until the completion of all proceedings in connection with which the materials were produced. A department official may administer oaths and affirmations to a person whose testimony is required. In the event a person fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the department or to testify on a matter concerning which he may be lawfully interrogated, on application by the department, the Commonwealth Court may issue an order requiring the attendance of the person, the production of instruments, documents, accounts, books and records and the giving of testimony.

(3) Request and receive information or records of any kind, including reports of criminal history record information from any Federal, State, local or foreign government entity regarding an applicant for a license, licensee or person related in any way to the business of the applicant or licensee, at a cost to be paid by the applicant or licensee.

(4) Issue regulations, statements of policy or orders as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the mortgage loan business by licensees, the issuance and renewal of licenses and the enforcement of this chapter.

(5) Prohibit or permanently remove a person or licensee responsible for a violation of this chapter from working in the present capacity or in any other capacity of the person or licensee related to activities regulated by the department.

(6) Order a person or licensee to make restitution for actual damages to consumers caused by any violation of this chapter.

(7) Issue cease and desist orders that are effective immediately, subject to a hearing as specified in subsection (b) within 14 days of the issuance of the order.

(8) Impose such other conditions as the department deems appropriate.

(b) Hearings.--A person aggrieved by a decision of the department may appeal the decision of the department to the commission. The appeal shall be conducted under 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5 Subch. A (relating to practice and procedure of Commonwealth agencies).

(c) Injunctions.--The department may maintain an action for an injunction or other process against a person to restrain and prevent the person from engaging in an activity violating this chapter.

(d) Final orders.--A decision of the commission, or an unappealed order of the department, shall be a final order of the department and shall be enforceable in a court of competent jurisdiction. The department may publish final adjudications issued under this section, subject to redaction or modification to preserve confidentiality. The department shall regularly report violations of this chapter, enforcement actions and other relevant information to the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

(e) Appeals.--A person aggrieved by a decision of the commission may appeal the decision under 2 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 Subch. A (relating to judicial review of Commonwealth agency action).

(f) Orders affecting mortgage originators.--An order issued against a licensee is applicable to the mortgage originators sponsored by the licensee.

(Aug. 5, 2009, P.L.117, No.31, eff. imd.; July 2, 2013, P.L.210, No.38, eff. 60 days)

Notation

2013 Amendment.  Act 38 amended subsecs. (b), (d), (e) and (f).

Cross References.  Section 6138 is referred to in section 6112 of this title.