Sec. 4. (a) A person may not operate a warehouse or conduct business as a grain buyer or buyer-warehouse without first having obtained the appropriate license from the agency, nor may a person or entity associated with the person continue to operate a warehouse or conduct business as a grain buyer or buyer-warehouse after the person's license has been revoked or suspended, except as provided in section 18 of this chapter.

(b) All facilities in Indiana that an applicant for a license uses to store or handle grain must qualify for and obtain a license and be licensed under this chapter before the applicant may operate a warehouse or conduct business as a grain buyer in Indiana. An applicant may not be licensed unless all of the applicant's facilities qualify for a license under this chapter. An applicant for a license must apply to the agency for a license that covers all facilities operated by the applicant for the storage or handling of grain in Indiana.

(c) If a licensee acquires an additional grain storage or handling facility in Indiana, the licensee shall promptly submit to the agency an amended application for licensure. A licensee shall promptly notify the agency of a material change to the licensee's operations, such as expansion of the amount of storage being used in the licensee's existing facilities or change of ownership of a facility, and shall provide the director with additional information the director may require. A licensee shall obtain the approval of the director before making use of increased storage or handling capacity.

(d) A licensee that acquires an additional grain storage or handling facility that is required to be licensed shall not use the facility for the storage or handling of grain until it qualifies for and is issued a license and is licensed as provided in this chapter. If a licensed grain storage or handling facility that a licensee operates in Indiana becomes ineligible for a license at any time for any reason, it shall not be used for the storage or handling of grain until the condition making it ineligible is removed.

(e) A licensee shall maintain at least eighty percent (80%) of the unpaid balance of grain payables in unencumbered assets represented by the aggregate of the following:

(1) Company owned grain.

(2) Cash on hand.

(3) Cash held on account in federally or state licensed financial institutions or lending institutions of the Federal Farm Credit Administration.

(4) Investments held in time accounts with federally or state licensed financial institutions.

(5) Direct obligations of the United States government.

(6) Balances in grain margin accounts determined by marking to market.

(7) Balances due or to become due to the licensee on deferred pricing contracts.

(8) Marketable securities, including mutual funds.

(9) Irrevocable letters of credit that are:

(A) in favor of the agency;

(B) acceptable to the agency; and

(C) in addition to any letter of credit deposited with the director to satisfy the bonding requirement of this chapter.

(10) Deferred pricing contract service charges due or to become due to the licensee.

(11) Other evidence of proceeds from or of grain that is acceptable to the agency.

(12) Seed inventory.

(13) Other assets approved by the director.

(f) A licensee must have the minimum positive net worth specified in section 16 of this chapter to hold any license or do business.

Formerly: Acts 1973, P.L.268, SEC.1; Acts 1974, P.L.120, SEC.3. As amended by Acts 1982, P.L.155, SEC.4; P.L.191-1991, SEC.3; P.L.139-1996, SEC.8; P.L.125-1997, SEC.21; P.L.173-1999, SEC.3; P.L.60-2015, SEC.6.