202.021 Registration.

(1) Applications for registration.

(a) Applicants for registration under this chapter shall apply to the department, on forms and in the manner prescribed by the department. Forms prescribed by the department under this paragraph may contain any content or requirement that the department, in its discretion, determines necessary and these forms may be modified or updated as necessary by the department to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b)

1. The department shall require each applicant to provide his or her social security number with the applicant's application, or, if the applicant is not an individual, the department shall require the applicant to provide its federal employer identification number.

2. If an applicant is an individual who does not have a social security number, the applicant shall submit a statement to the department made or subscribed under oath that the applicant does not have a social security number. The department of children and families shall prescribe the form of the statement. A registration issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted under this subdivision is invalid.

3. The department may not disclose a social security number obtained under subd. 1. to any person except the department of children and families to administer s. 49.22, the department of revenue to request certifications under s. 73.0301 and administer state taxes, and the department of workforce development to request certifications under s. 108.227.

(c) The department may require the electronic submission of an application or any other document or information that may be submitted to the department under this chapter.

(2) Completion of registration process.

(a) The department may conduct an investigation of the applicant, including the applicant's members, officers, trustees, and directors, to determine whether the applicant satisfies all of the requirements specified for registration. The investigation may include determining whether any of the applicant's members, officers, trustees, or directors has an arrest or conviction record. In conducting an investigation under this paragraph, the department may require an applicant to provide any information that is necessary for the investigation.

(b) If an officer, director, or member of an applicant has been convicted or has an arrest or conviction record, the department may charge an applicant the fees, costs, or other expenses the department incurs for conducting an investigation under this subsection.

(bn) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the department may deny or limit the registration of an applicant or registrant that has a member, officer, trustee, or director who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor.

(c) Except as provided in sub. (4), the department shall, after its review of an application, issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.

(d) A registration issued under this chapter is not assignable or transferable.

(3) Renewal of registration.

(a) The department shall give a notice of renewal to each registrant at least 30 days before the expiration date of the registration. The department may give that notice by electronic transmission.

(b) Failure to receive a notice of renewal is not a defense in any disciplinary proceeding against a registrant or in any proceeding against a former registrant for practicing without a registration. Failure to receive a notice of renewal does not relieve a registrant from the obligation to pay a penalty for late renewal under par. (c).

(c)

1. A registrant may apply to renew its registration by submitting to the department an application, fees, and any financial statement required by s. 202.22. For the renewal application to be timely, the renewal fee and application must be received by the department on or before the registration's expiration date.

2. Subject to subd. 4., a registrant whose renewal fee and completed application are not received by the department on or before the registration's expiration date, but are received within 60 days after the expiration date, must pay the late fee determined by the department under s. 202.041.

3. A registrant whose renewal fee and completed application are not received by the department within 60 days after the expiration date of the registration must submit an application for a new registration.

4. After the expiration date, a registrant that is required to renew its registration may not continue to conduct the activity for which the registration is required unless the registrant's certificate has been renewed by the department or the registrant has paid the renewal fee and filed a completed renewal application on or before the registration's expiration date.

(4) Denial of application.

(a) The department may not issue or renew a registration under this chapter if any of the following applies:

1. The applicant has failed to submit a complete application to the department. Before denying an incomplete application, the department shall notify the applicant of any deficiencies in the application and give the applicant a reasonable amount of time to resolve the deficiencies.

2. The department determines that the applicant has failed to comply with any applicable requirement for the issuance or renewal of registration.

3. The department determines that the denial of the application is necessary to protect the public health, safety, or welfare.

4. The department is not satisfied that the applicant or registrant will comply with this chapter and any rules promulgated under this chapter.

5. The department of revenue has certified under s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

6. The department of workforce development has certified under s. 108.227 that the applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. An applicant whose application is denied under this subdivision for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

7. The applicant is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of children and families or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to child support or paternity proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. An applicant whose license is not issued or renewed under this subdivision for delinquent payments is entitled to a notice and hearing under s. 49.857 but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section.

(b) If the department denies an application under par. (a) 1., 2., 3., or 4., the department shall provide the applicant with a notice of denial that states the facts or conduct giving rise to the denial and states that the applicant may, within 30 days after the date stated on the notice of denial, file a written request with the department for the department to review the denial at a hearing.

History: 2015 a. 163 ss. 6, 8, 12 to 14, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 28.