The director of agriculture, by order, may refuse to grant or may suspend or conditionally suspend a handler's license, without prior hearing, when the director determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that the applicant or licensee:

(A) Has failed to maintain the insurance coverage required under section 926.07 of the Revised Code;

(B) Has failed to maintain accurate and complete records and accounts as required under section 926.11 of the Revised Code;

(C) Has failed to charge, collect, or remit the fee required under division (B) of section 926.16 of the Revised Code;

(D) Has refused to allow the director or the director's authorized representative to examine, at a reasonable time, the applicant's or licensee's accounting records, accounts, agricultural commodity inventories, or warehouse;

(E) Does not possess sufficient agricultural commodities to cover the outstanding receipts or tickets issued or assumed by the applicant or licensee under bailment agreements;

(F) Has issued a receipt in violation of this chapter or any rules adopted under it;

(G) Does not have the net assets specified in division (B) of section 926.06 of the Revised Code or has failed to obtain a bond or other protection for any deficiency in required net assets as provided in that division;

(H) Does not have the obligations for agricultural commodities purchased under delayed price agreements secured or represented as required under division (B) or (C) of section 926.29 of the Revised Code;

(I) Does not submit financial statements that comply with the requirements of division (C) of section 926.06 of the Revised Code within the applicable time period specified in that division;

(J) Does not notify the director of a statutory agent's change of address or of the death, removal, resignation, or revocation of the appointment of a statutory agent or does not appoint another agent in accordance with section 926.051 of the Revised Code.

The applicant or licensee to whom a denial, suspension, or conditional suspension order is issued shall be afforded a hearing in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, after which the director shall issue or deny the license applied for in the pending application or reinstate or revoke the suspended or conditionally suspended license. The director may suspend, conditionally suspend, or revoke a license after a hearing held in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code for any other violations of this chapter or any rules adopted under it.

The director shall cause a notice to be posted on the property of a person whose license has been suspended, conditionally suspended, or revoked stating the limitations or restrictions imposed on the person in the handling of agricultural commodities as a result of the suspension, conditional suspension, or revocation. The notice shall not be removed from the property without written authorization from the director.

If a handler's license is revoked, the handler immediately shall notify, in a manner determined by the director, all parties that are storing agricultural commodities in the handler's warehouse and all holders of receipts issued by the handler, if known. The handler shall liquidate the commodities in the manner determined by the director.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 31, SB 66, §1, eff. 10/11/2013.

Effective Date: 07-29-1998