214.00.08 Ark. Code R. § 001 - Uniform Money Services Act

When the terms listed below are used in the Arkansas Uniform Money Services Act, any Rules or forms promulgated under the Arkansas Uniform Money Services Act, or any order of the Commissioner under the Arkansas Uniform Money Services Act, the following definitions shall apply, unless a contrary definition is expressly provided or clearly required by the context, to the extent that they do not conflict with the definitions set forth in the Arkansas Uniform Money Services Act.

(1) Act. The term "Act" means the Arkansas Uniform Money Services Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-101 et seq., as the same may be codified and amended from time to time.

(2) Applicant. The term "applicant" means a person who submits an application for a money transmission or currency exchange license or a person who submits an application for approval to engage in money transmission or currency exchange in Arkansas without being licensed.

(3) Application. The term "application" means the form prescribed by the Commissioner for filing in connection with obtaining either a money transmission license, currency exchange license, or the Commissioner's approval to engage in money transmission or currency exchange in Arkansas, including all amendments, papers, documents and exhibits incidental thereto.

(4) Audited financial statement. The term "audited financial statement" means a statement prepared by an independent accountant according to generally accepted accounting principles.

(5) Commissioner. The term "Commissioner" means the Arkansas Securities Commissioner and includes the Commissioner's designees.

(6) Currency exchange. The term "currency exchange" means exchanging the money of one government for money of another government, or holding oneself out as able to exchange the money of one government for money of another government. The following persons are not considered currency exchangers:

(A) Affiliated businesses that engage in currency exchange for a business purpose other than currency exchange;

(B) A person who provides currency exchange services for a person acting primarily for a business, commercial, agricultural, or investment purpose when the currency exchange is incidental to the transaction;

(C) A person who deals in coins or a person who deals in money whose value is primarily determined because it is rare, old, or collectible; and

(D) A person who in the regular course of business chooses to accept from a customer the currency of a country other than the United States in order to complete the sale of a good or service other than currency exchange, that may include cash back to the customer, and does not otherwise trade in currencies or transmit money for compensation or gain.

(8) Engaged in the business of money services. The term "engaged in the business of money services," unless otherwise provided, includes any person who holds himself out as being a currency dealer or exchanger; an issuer of traveler's checks, money orders or stored value; a seller or redeemer of traveler's checks, money orders or stored value; or who receives money or monetary value for the purpose of transmitting said money or monetary value using a system outside that of a conventional financial institution.

(9) Medium of exchange. The term "medium of exchange" connotes that the value is accepted by a larger group than the two parties to the change. Therefore, no monetary value, as that term is defined in the Act, would exist if the product (i.e. gift certificate) or payment mechanism (i.e. universal payment card) is only accepted by one merchant.

(10) Money transmission. The term "money transmission" means selling or issuing payments instruments, stored value, or receiving money or monetary value for transmission. The term excludes entities that provide delivery services (e.g. courier or package delivery services) and entities that act as mere conduits for the transmission of data (e.g. Internet service providers). The term does, however, include the following:

(A) A bill payer service, except that the term does not include a service that transfers money or monetary value directly from a purchaser to a creditor of the purchaser or to an agent of the creditor; and

(B) Any informal money transfer system engaged in as a business for, or network of persons who engage as a business in, facilitating the transfer between persons who engage as a business in, facilitating the transfer of money outside the conventional financial institutions system to a location within or outside the United States.

(11) Principal. The term "principal" means any person who controls, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, alone or in concert with others, a twenty-five percent or greater interest in a partnership, company, corporation, or association, or the owner of a sole proprietorship.

Upon the Staff's request, the person seeking to qualify for the exclusion codified at Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-103(4) must submit:

(b) a letter, signed by a duty authorized officer of the bank; bank holding company; office of the international banking corporation; branch of a foreign bank; corporation organized pursuant to the Bank Service Corporation Act; or corporation organized under the Edge Act, confirming that the institution, branch, or agency:

(1) assumes all legal responsibility in the State of Arkansas for satisfying the money services obligations owed to Arkansas purchasers of the money transmission services upon receipt of the purchaser's money or monetary value by you or your agents; and

(2) assumes all risk of loss that a purchaser may suffer as a result of the failure of you or one of your agents to transmit the purchaser's funds to the entity;

(c) an executed agreement between you and the bank; bank holding company; office of the international banking corporation; branch of a foreign bank; corporation organized pursuant to the Bank Service Corporation Act; or corporation organized under the Edge Act that:

(1) includes terms consistent with this statements contained in the letter described in paragraph (2); and

(2) appoints you as the agent of the bank; bank holding company; office of the international banking corporation; branch of a foreign bank; corporation organized pursuant to the Bank Service Corporation Act; or corporation organized under the Edge Act, sets out the limits of your authority, and includes your agreement to act only within the scope of that authority; and

(1) a person engages in the business of money transmission if the person conducts money transmission for persons located in this state or conducts money transmission from a physical location in this state for persons located outside this state and receives compensation or expects to receive compensation, directly or indirectly, for conducting the transmissions; and

(2) persons engaging in the business of money transmission shall be presumed to solicit, advertise, or hold itself out as a person that engages in the business of money transmission in this state if the person fails to provide a disclaimer listing either the states in which it is licensed or approved to do business or the states in which it is not licensed or approved to do business.

(a) Additional information. The Staff will review the application and, as authorized by Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-205 , investigate the applicant and all related facts to determine if the applicant possesses the qualifications and satisfies the requirements for the license. At any time during the review and investigation process, the Department may require such information as the Staff considers necessary to evaluate the application, including opinion of counsel or an opinion, review, or audited financials prepared by a certified public accountant. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide or cause to be provided all the information the Department requires.

(b) Extension of time. The Commissioner may give the applicant a 30-day extension to submit the additional information requested if the Department receives a written extension request from the applicant within 10 days of the Staff's request for additional information. Upon a finding of good cause, the Commissioner may give the applicant an additional extension if the Department receives a written request and sworn affidavits to support the claimed facts before the expiration of the 30-day period described above. The request must explain in detail the reasons the extension is needed. The Commissioner will notify the applicant of the decision by letter mailed via regular mail to the address provided by the applicant on or before the 10 th day after the date the Department receives the request.

In this rule, "good cause" means that the applicant acted diligently and took the steps reasonably necessary to enable the applicant to file the required information in a timely manner, but that circumstances beyond the applicant's control prevent it from doing so. Good cause cannot be based upon ignorance of the law or facts that could have been learned through the exercise of due diligence or failure to take the actions necessary to ensure timely and complete filing and payment.

After reviewing the information provided in response to the Staff's initial request for additional information, the Staff may determine that still more information is required. The Staff will notify the applicant in writing by regular mail to the address provided by the applicant if further information is required and specify the date by which the Department must receive the information.

(c) Abandoned application. If the applicant fails to provide any and all additional information required within the specified timeframe, the Commissioner may determine the application to be abandoned, without prejudice to an applicant's rights to file a new application. The Commissioner will notify the applicant in writing via regular mail to the address provided by the applicant if the application is considered abandoned. The Commissioner's determination is effective the date the Department mails the applicant the notice and may not be appealed. The Department will not refund the fee paid in connection with the abandoned application.

(d) Forms and instructions. Copies of forms and instructions for the preparation of applications for licenses are available on the Department's web site at http://www.securities.arkansas.gov or may be obtained upon request from the Staff. The Commissioner may from time to time adopt additional forms and instructions, and alter, amend or discontinue any form or instruction.

(a) Nothing in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-203 shall be construed to relieve a person that is licensed to engage in money transmission in another state from submitting an application for approval to engage in money transmission in Arkansas, a nonrefundable fee in the amount of $1,000, and a certification of license history in the other state.

(b) The application to engage in money transmission when licensed in another state must state or contain the information required of applicants for a money transmission license set out in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-202(b) and (c) .

The Commissioner may increase the amount of security required, to a maximum of one million dollars ($1,000,000), if the financial condition of a money transmitter licensee so requires. The Commissioner may consider, without limitation, the following criteria:

(f) The filing of a state or federal criminal charge against the licensee, person in control, responsible individual, executive officer, board director, employee, authorized delegate or principal, based on conduct related to providing money services or money laundering.

(g) A licensee, executive officer, board director, person in control, responsible individual, principal or authorized delegate being convicted of a crime.

(i) A judicial or administrative finding against a money transmitter licensee under the Act, or an examination report finding that the money transmitter licensee engaged in an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the conduct of its business.

(j) Other events and circumstances that, in the judgment of the Commissioner, impair the ability of the licensee to meet its obligations to its money services customers.

(a) The Commissioner may consider the following factors, without limitation, in determining whether an applicant has fulfilled the conditions for a license codified in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-205(a)(2) :

(1) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, person in control or authorized delegate has been convicted of any felony within the past ten years;

(2) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, person in control or authorized delegate has been convicted of a crime involving a financial transaction or fraud within the past ten years;

(3) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director or person in control has criminal, civil, or administrative charges issued against him/them in any jurisdiction for violations relating to a financial transaction(s) or fraud within the past ten years;

(4) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, or person in control has falsified any information supplied in connection with the application;

(5) whether the applicant, or any proposed authorized delegate thereof, has had an adverse action taken against any business license related to providing financial services by a jurisdiction within the United States within the past five years;

(6) whether the applicant has allowed a business under its control to deteriorate to a condition of insolvency determined by the fact that its liabilities exceed its assets or it cannot meet its liabilities as they mature;

(7) whether the applicant, or any authorized delegate thereof, failed to respond to a request for information from the Commissioner;

(8) whether the description of the screening process used by the applicant in selecting authorized delegates supplied by the applicant describes a process that is ineffective in determining the fitness of proposed authorized delegates;

(9) whether the applicant has failed to register with the United States Department of the Treasury as required by 31 U.S.C. Section 5330;

(10) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible individual, board director, or person in control is listed on the specially designated nationals and blocked persons list prepared by the United States Department of the Treasury as a potential threat to commit terrorist acts or to finance terrorist acts.

(b) In lieu of denying an application as authorized by any of the findings in subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner may return the application or extend the review period if the Commissioner determines that the condition or circumstances that would likely lead to denial may be temporary and resolved satisfactorily within a reasonable period of time. The Commissioner may resume processing the application if the Commissioner determines that a favorable resolution of the disqualifying condition has occurred.

(a) Extension of time. Compliance with Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-206(a) is necessary for the Department to orderly and efficiently administer and enforce the Act. However, Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-206(d) authorizes the Commissioner to allow the licensee to file or complete the filing of its renewal report at a date later than required for good cause. The licensee has the burden to demonstrate good cause.

(b) Good cause. In this rule, "good cause" means that the licensee acted diligently and took the steps reasonably necessary to enable the licensee to file the complete renewal report and pay the renewal fee in a timely manner, but that circumstances beyond the licensee's control prevent it from doing so.

The licensee is expected to know and comply with the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-206(a) and (b) . Good cause cannot be based upon ignorance of the law or facts that could have been learned through the exercise of due diligence or failure to take the actions necessary to ensure timely and complete filing and payment. For example, the licensee should know the time and information requirements necessary to obtain an audited financial statement. The inability or failure of the licensee's accountant to timely produce an audited financial statement is generally not considered to be a circumstance beyond the licensee's control.

(c) Application for extension of time. Applications for an extension of the renewal date must be submitted in writing to the Department no later than 60 days before the anniversary of the issuance of the license. The request must:

(1) state in detail the facts that support the licensee's claim that good cause exists for the extension;

(1) a person engages in the business of currency exchange if the person conducts currency exchange for persons located in this state or conducts currency exchange from a physical location in this state for persons located outside this state; and

(2) persons engaging in the business of currency exchange shall be presumed to solicit, advertise, or hold itself out as a person that engages in the business of currency exchange in this state if the person fails to provide a disclaimer listing either the states in which it is licensed or approved to do business or the states in which it is not licensed or approved to do business.

(a) Additional information. The Staff will review the application and, as authorized by Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-403 , investigate the applicant and all related facts to determine if the applicant possesses the qualifications and satisfies the requirements for the license. At any time during the review and investigation process, the Department may require such information as the Staff considers necessary to evaluate the application, including opinion of counsel or an opinion, review, or audited financials prepared by a certified public accountant. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide or cause to be provided all the information the Department requires.

(b) Extension of time. The Commissioner may give the applicant a 30-day extension to submit the additional information requested if the Department receives a written extension request from the applicant within 10 days of the Staff's request for additional information. Upon a finding of good cause, the Commissioner may give the applicant an additional extension if the Department receives a written request and sworn affidavits to support the claimed facts before the expiration of the 30-day period described above. The request must explain in detail the reasons the extension is needed. The Commissioner will notify the applicant of the decision by letter mailed via regular mail to the address provided by the applicant on or before the 10 th day after the date the Department receives the request.

In this rule, "good cause" means that the applicant acted diligently and took the steps reasonably necessary to enable the applicant to file the required information in a timely manner, but that circumstances beyond the applicant's control prevent it from doing so. Good cause cannot be based upon ignorance of the law or facts that could have been learned through the exercise of due diligence or failure to take the actions necessary to ensure timely and complete filing and payment.

After reviewing the information provided in response to the Staff's initial request for additional information, the Department may determine that still more information is required. The Staff will notify the applicant in writing by regular mail to the address provided by the applicant if further information is required and specify the date by which the Department must receive the information.

(c) Abandoned application. If the applicant fails to provide any and all additional information required within the specified timeframe, the Commissioner may determine the application to be abandoned, without prejudice to an applicant's rights to file a new application. The Commissioner will notify the applicant in writing via regular mail to the address provided by the applicant if the application is considered abandoned. The Commissioner's determination is effective the date the Department mails the applicant the notice and may not be appealed. The Department will not refund the fee paid in connection with the abandoned application.

(d) Forms and instructions. Copies of forms and instructions for the preparation of applications for licenses are available on the Department's web site at http://www.securities.arkansas.gov or may be obtained upon request from the Staff. The Commissioner may from time to time adopt additional forms and instructions, and alter, amend or discontinue any form or instruction.

(a) The Commissioner may consider the following factors, without limitation, in determining whether an applicant has fulfilled the conditions for a license codified in Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-403(a)(2) :

(1) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, person in control or authorized delegate has been convicted of any felony within the past ten years;

(2) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, person in control or authorized delegate has been convicted of a crime involving a financial transaction or fraud within the past ten years;

(3) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director or person in control has criminal, civil, or administrative charges issued against him/them in any jurisdiction for violations relating to a financial transaction(s) or fraud within the past ten years;

(4) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible person, board director, or person in control has falsified any information supplied in connection with the application;

(5) whether the applicant, or any proposed authorized delegate thereof, has had an adverse action taken against any business license related to providing financial services by a jurisdiction within the United States within the past five years;

(6) whether the applicant has allowed a business under its control to deteriorate to a condition of insolvency determined by the fact that its liabilities exceed its assets or it cannot meet its liabilities as they mature;

(7) whether the applicant, or any authorized delegate thereof, failed to respond to a request for information from the Commissioner;

(8) whether the description of the screening process used by the applicant in selecting authorized delegates supplied by the applicant describes a process that is ineffective in determining the fitness of proposed authorized delegates;

(9) whether the applicant has failed to register with the United States Department of the Treasury as required by 31 U.S.C. Section 5330;

(10) whether the applicant, an executive officer, proposed responsible individual, board director, or person in control is listed on the specially designated nationals and blocked persons list prepared by the United States Department of the Treasury as a potential threat to commit terrorist acts or to finance terrorist acts.

(b) In lieu of denying an application as authorized by any of the findings in subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner may return the application or extend the review period if the Commissioner determines that the condition or circumstances that would likely lead to denial may be temporary and resolved satisfactorily within a reasonable period of time. The Commissioner may resume processing the application if the Commissioner determines that a favorable resolution of the disqualifying condition has occurred.

(a) Extension of time. Compliance with Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-404(a) is necessary for the Department to orderly and efficiently administer and enforce the Act. However, Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-404(d) authorizes the Commissioner to allow the licensee to file or complete the filing of its renewal report at a date later than required for good cause. The licensee has the burden to demonstrate good cause.

(b) Good cause. In this rule, "good cause" means that the licensee acted diligently and took the steps reasonably necessary to enable the licensee to file the complete renewal report and pay the renewal fee in a timely manner, but that circumstances beyond the licensee's control prevent it from doing so.

The licensee is expected to know and comply with the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-404(a) and (b) . Good cause cannot be based upon ignorance of the law or facts that could have been learned through the exercise of due diligence or failure to take the actions necessary to ensure timely and complete filing and payment.

(c) Application for extension of time. Applications for an extension of the renewal date must be submitted in writing to the Department no later than 60 days before the biennial anniversary of the issuance of the license. The request must:

(1) state in detail the facts that support the licensee's claim that good cause exists for the extension;

(a) Material changes described in this section must be reported to the Commissioner within fifteen (15) business days of the occurrence of the change.

(b) "Material change" means any change that is not trivial, and that, if not reported, would cause an investigation or examination to be misled or delayed. Such changes include, but are not limited to:

(4) A change in the location where the records of the licensee that are required to be retained under Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-605 are kept;

(6) The conviction of the licensee, an executive officer, responsible individual, board director, principal, or person in control of a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor involving a financial transaction or fraud; and

(c) In accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-603(b) , a licensee shall file with the Commissioner within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter a current list of all authorized delegates and locations in this state where the licensee or an authorized delegate of the licensee provides money services. Compliance is deemed where the licensee provides to the Commissioner:

(1) Any addition or deletion of the licensee-owned locations where money services are provided, including mobile locations;

A request for approval of change of control as required by Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-604 shall be made within fifteen days after learning of the proposed change of control. The request for approval shall include:

(2) The ownership interest and managerial authority of all persons in control under the proposed change.

(a) The Commissioner may assess a civil penalty against a person that violates the Act or these rules or an order issued under the Act.

(b) Notice of assessment of civil penalties. Upon the request of the Staff, the Commissioner shall issue a notice of assessment of a civil penalty. The notice shall include the following:

(3) notice that the licensee or other person is entitled to a hearing in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-902 , to determine whether a civil penalty should be assessed against the licensee or other person, if the licensee or other person requests the hearing within thirty days of service of the notice of assessment of a civil penalty;

(4) notice that, if the licensee or other person makes a timely request for a hearing, the licensee or other person may appear at the hearing in person, by attorney, or by presenting positions, arguments, and contentions in writing, and at the hearing may present evidence and examine witnesses for and against the licensee or other person;

(5) notice that failure of the licensee or other person to make a timely request for a hearing to determine whether a civil penalty should be assessed against the licensee or other person, or to appear at the hearing, in person, by attorney, or by writing, is consent by the licensee or other person to the assessment of the civil penalty.

(c) Amount of civil penalty. The Commissioner is authorized by Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-805 to assess a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $1,000 per day for each day the violation is outstanding, plus the State's costs and expenses for the investigation and prosecution of the matter, including reasonable attorney's fees.

(d) In determining the amount of civil penalty to be assessed pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 23-55-805 , the Commissioner shall consider all of the following:

These rules should be read in conjunction with the Administrative Procedures Act ("APA"), Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-201 -217.

Address or deliver all communications and inquiries to:

(a) Arkansas Securities Department, 201 East Markham, Heritage West Building, Suite 300, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201.

(b) The general information number for the Department is (501) 324-9260 and the toll free number is (800) 981-4429.

(d) The business hours of the Department are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day except Saturdays, Sundays and legally declared state holidays.

(a) Motions, requests, petitions, requests for advisory opinions or interpretations and other materials submitted to the Department shall be filed with the Commissioner at the office of the Department or with any person authorized or designated by the Commissioner to receive a filing.

(b) A filing may be made by personal delivery, first-class, registered or certified mail or any express delivery service. Where permitted by the Commissioner, a filing may be made by facsimile or any other electronic means provided the Department can print such filing. The Commissioner may require that a signed original of any document filed by electronic means be filed with the Department.

(c) All petitions, correspondence, motions or other documents shall be deemed filed when received by the Commissioner or any person authorized or designated by the Commissioner to receive a filing.

The Commissioner or his designee may issue advisory opinions or other legal interpretations regarding the Act, these rules, or any order issued under the Act or these rules. Requests for written opinions or interpretations of the laws or rules shall be in writing. The request must state or contain:

(b) The specific section or subsection of the particular statute, rule, or order to which the request pertains must be indicated in the request.

(c) The names of each person and entity involved in the underlying facts. Requests relating to unnamed persons or entities, or to hypothetical situations, will not be answered.

(d) Requests should be limited to the particular situation involving the problem at hand and must not attempt to include every possible type of situation that may arise in the future. The facts and representations must be specific, not general.

(e) While it is essential that the request contain all of the facts necessary to reach a conclusion in the matter, the request should be concise and to the point.

(f) An indication why the requesting party thinks a problem exists, his own opinion in the matter, and the basis for his opinion.

(g) If the requesting party seeks confidential treatment, a separate letter requesting confidential treatment and stating the basis for confidential treatment must be submitted with the request for informal advice.

In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by the Act or these rules, the day of the act, event, or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or a legally declared state holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday, nor a legally declared state holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven (7) days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legally declared state holidays shall be excluded in the computation.

Except as otherwise provided by law, the Commissioner may, for good cause shown, extend any time limit prescribed or allowed by the rules or by any notice or order issued in a contested case or other proceeding. The Commissioner may grant extensions upon motion of a party or the Staff, after notice and opportunity to respond is afforded to all non-moving parties and the Staff, if the Staff is not the movant, or on the Commissioner's own motion. All motions for extensions shall be made before the expiration of the period prescribed.

The filing with the Commissioner of any motion, petition, request for declaratory ruling or any other document shall not relieve any person of the obligation to comply with any statute, rule, or order of the Commissioner. Acceptance of such filing by the Commissioner shall not constitute a waiver of any failure to comply with the Act or these rules. Where appropriate, the Commissioner may require the amendment of any filing.

(a) Service of all documents shall be by personal service, first-class, registered or certified mail, or any express delivery service.

(b) A copy of any document served by any party showing the addresses to which the document or other paper was served shall be placed in the Commissioner's files and shall be prima facie evidence of such service and the date of such service.

(c) A party, intervenor, or the Staff filing documents with the Commissioner in a contested case shall serve a copy of such documents upon the counsel of record for all parties or intervenors that are represented by counsel, upon any party or intervenor not represented and upon counsel for the Department. Certification of such service shall be endorsed on all documents when filed with the Commissioner.

(a) Any person who appears and testifies in a deposition or a contested case may be accompanied, represented and advised by counsel. The right to be accompanied, represented and advised by counsel means the right of a person testifying to have counsel present at all times while testifying and to have counsel:

(2) Question the person briefly at the conclusion of testimony to clarify any of the answers given; and

(b) The Commissioner may take such action as the circumstances warrant against a person who engages in dilatory or obstructionist conduct during the course of a deposition, including exclusion of the offending person from participation in the deposition or contested case.

A matter that is a contested case by operation of law commences when the Department so designates, but in no event not later than the date when the Commissioner issues a notice of hearing.

(a) Unless otherwise provided by statute, notice of a hearing shall be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to the hearing.

(c) The Commissioner may amend the notice of hearing at any stage of the contested case prior to the close of evidence. The Commissioner shall provide parties and intervenors with notice of the amendment and shall provide them with sufficient time to prepare their case in light of the amendment. A party that has requested a hearing on the original notice need not request a hearing on the amended notice and any such hearing shall proceed on the amended notice as if it were the original notice.

Unless by direction of the Commissioner a different place is designated, all hearings of the Department shall be held at the office of the Department.

The Commissioner shall have all the powers necessary to conduct the proceeding in a fair and impartial manner and to avoid unnecessary delay. The powers of the Commissioner include, but are not limited to, the following:

(b) Regulating the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties and their counsel, including the power to receive relevant, material and nonrepetitious evidence, rule upon the admissibility of evidence and offers of proof, and exclude or suspend a party's counsel from the proceedings for dilatory, obstructionist, egregious, contemptuous, or contumacious conduct;

(c) Scheduling and holding prehearing conferences and conferences prior to and during the course of a hearing;

(d) Considering and ruling upon all procedural and other motions appropriate in a proceeding, including petitions to add a party or intervenor;

(e) Recusing for bias or conflict of interest himself or herself on a motion made by a party or the Staff and appointing a new hearing officer in his place;

(f) Performing all other functions necessary and appropriate to discharge the duties of Commissioner.

(a) The Commissioner may, for good cause, upon the Commissioner's own motion or upon motion by a party or the Department, consolidate proceedings involving related questions of law or fact.

(b) The Commissioner may, for good cause, upon the Commissioner's own motion or upon motion by a party or the Department, sever the proceeding for separate resolution of the matter as to any party or issue. In determining whether to sever the proceeding, the Commissioner shall consider whether any undue prejudice or injustice that would result from not severing the proceeding outweighs the interests of judicial economy and expeditiousness in the complete and final resolution of the proceeding.

(1) A motion may be made in writing or orally, unless the Commissioner directs that such motion be reduced to writing.

(2) All written motions shall state with particularity the relief sought and may be accompanied by a proposed order.

(3) No oral arguments may be held on written motions except as otherwise directed by the Commissioner. Written memoranda, briefs, affidavits or other relevant materials or documents may be filed in support of or in opposition to a motion.

(b) Motions shall be filed with the Commissioner. There shall be filed an original and two (2) copies of each pleading and each exhibit.

(1) Not more than seven days after service of any motion, or such longer period of time as may be permitted by the Commissioner for good cause, any party or the Staff may file a written response to a written motion.

(2) The Commissioner shall not rule on any oral or written motion before each party and the Staff have had an opportunity to respond.

(3) The failure of a party or the Staff to oppose a motion is deemed consent by that party or the Staff to the entry of an order granting the relief sought.

The Commissioner may continue the hearing on his or her own motion or on the motion of any party or the Department on such terms as the Commissioner may require. The Commissioner may grant any additional requests for a continuance for settlement purposes or in the event that the denial of a continuance request would substantially prejudice a party's or the Department's case.

(a) When a party fails to request a hearing within the time specified in the cease and desist order or other administrative order, the allegations against the party may be deemed admitted. Without further proceedings or notice to the party, the Commissioner shall issue a final decision. The Commissioner may, if deemed necessary, receive evidence from the Staff, as part of the record, concerning the appropriateness of the amount of any civil penalty sought in the request.

(b) When a party fails to appear at a scheduled hearing, the allegations against the party may be deemed admitted. Without further proceedings or notice to the party, the Commissioner shall issue a final decision. The Commissioner may, if deemed necessary, receive evidence from the Staff, as part of the record, concerning the appropriateness of the amount of any civil penalty sought in the request.

(c) A party that failed to request or appear at a hearing may file a petition for reconsideration of a final decision.

(a) Attorneys duly admitted to practice law in the State of Arkansas and in good standing may represent others before the Department.

(b) Attorneys in good standing from other jurisdictions may request and, for good cause shown, be allowed to appear in a contested case, provided an attorney admitted to practice in Arkansas is present during the entire proceeding, signs all pleadings and other papers filed in the proceeding and agrees to take full responsibility for supervising the conduct of the attorney.

(c) An individual may appear on his or her own behalf in a contested case; a partner, member or manager of a partnership or limited liability company may appear and represent the partnership or limited liability company; and a duly authorized officer, director or employee of any agency, institution, corporation or authority may appear and represent the agency, institution, corporation or authority.

(d) Each person making an appearance before the Commissioner as counsel or representative in connection with any contested case shall promptly notify the Commissioner in writing by filing a notice of appearance at or before the time such person submits papers or otherwise appears on behalf of a party in the contested case. The notice of appearance shall include a declaration that the individual is currently qualified as provided in this section and is authorized to represent and accept service on behalf of the represented party.

(e) Any party acting pro se shall so notify the Commissioner in writing by filing a notice of appearance with the Commissioner.

(f) After a notice of appearance is filed by a party or counsel, copies of all subsequent pleadings, notices, rulings, or decisions shall be provided to the person named in the notice of appearance and person designated to represent the Department.

(g) A person that has filed a notice of appearance may withdraw the notice of appearance by filing a written notice of withdrawal with the Commissioner and by providing a copy to all parties, intervenors, and the Department.

(a) Prior to the hearing, the parties, the Department, and their counsel may meet with the Commissioner, at the direction of the Commissioner or by mutual consent, in person at a specified time and place or confer with the Commissioner by telephone for the purpose of scheduling the course and conduct of the proceeding. The identification of potential witnesses, the time for and manner of inspecting and copying documents, and the exchange of any prehearing materials including witness lists, exhibits, and any other materials may also be determined at the scheduling conference.

(b) The Commissioner may, in addition to the scheduling conference, upon motion by any party or the Department, order the parties, the Staff, and their counsel to meet with the Commissioner in person or by telephone at a prehearing conference or may recess the hearing to address any or all of the following:

(3) Stipulations, admissions of fact, and the contents, authenticity, and admissibility into evidence of documents;