Title 6.2. Financial Institutions and Services
Subtitle III. Other Regulated Providers of Financial Services
Chapter 17. Mortgage Loan Originators
Chapter 17. Mortgage Loan Originators.
§ 6.2-1700. Definitions.As used in this chapter:
"Act" means the federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act, Title V (§ 1501 et seq.) of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289.
"Administrative or clerical tasks" means the receipt, collection, and distribution of information common for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan in the mortgage industry and communication with the consumer to obtain information necessary for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan.
"Covered financial institution" has the same meaning as that term is defined in 12 C.F.R. § 1007.102.
"Dwelling" means a residential structure or mobile home that contains one to four family housing units, or individual units of condominiums or cooperatives.
"Employee" means an individual (i) whose manner and means of performance of work are subject to the right of control of, or are controlled by, a person and (ii) whose compensation for federal income tax purposes is reported, or required to be reported, on a W-2 form issued by the controlling person.
"Immediate family member" means a spouse, child, sibling, parent, grandparent, or grandchild. This includes stepparents, stepchildren, stepsiblings, and adoptive relationships.
"Licensee" means an individual licensed under this chapter.
"Loan processor or underwriter" means an individual who, with respect to the origination of a residential mortgage loan, performs clerical or support duties at the direction of and subject to the supervision and instruction of a licensee or a registered mortgage loan originator. For the purposes of this definition, clerical or support duties include (i) the receipt, collection, distribution, and analysis of information common for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan and (ii) communication with a consumer to obtain the information necessary for the processing or underwriting of a residential mortgage loan, to the extent that such communication does not include offering or negotiating loan rates or terms, or counseling consumers about residential mortgage loan rates or terms.
"Mortgage loan originator" means an individual who (i) takes an application for or offers or negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan in which the dwelling is or will be located in the Commonwealth or (ii) represents to the public, through advertising or other means of communicating or providing information, including the use of business cards, stationery, brochures, signs, rate lists, or other promotional items, that such individual can or will perform any of the activities described in clause (i).
"Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry" or "Registry" means a mortgage licensing system developed and maintained by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators for the licensing and registration of mortgage loan originators.
"Nontraditional mortgage product" means any mortgage product other than a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.
"Real estate brokerage activities" means any activity that involves offering or providing real estate brokerage services to the public, including (i) acting as a real estate broker, real estate agent, or real estate salesperson for a buyer, seller, lessor, or lessee of real property; (ii) bringing together parties interested in the sale, purchase, lease, rental, or exchange of real property; (iii) negotiating any portion of a contract relating to the sale, purchase, lease, rental, or exchange of real property, other than in connection with providing financing with respect to any such transaction; (iv) engaging in any activity for which a person is required to be licensed or registered as a real estate broker, real estate agent, or real estate salesperson; and (v) offering to engage in any activity or act in any capacity described in clauses (i) through (iv).
"Registered mortgage loan originator" means any individual who (i) takes an application for or offers or negotiates the terms of a residential mortgage loan in which the dwelling is or will be located in the Commonwealth, (ii) is an employee of a covered financial institution, and (iii) is registered with, and maintains a unique identifier through, the Registry.
"Residential mortgage loan" means any loan primarily for personal, family, or household use that is secured by a mortgage, deed of trust, or other equivalent consensual security interest on a dwelling or residential real estate upon which is constructed or intended to be constructed a dwelling.
"Unique identifier" means a number or other identifier assigned by protocols established by the Registry that permanently identifies a mortgage loan originator.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.1; 2010, c. 794; 2011, cc. 301, 435; 2012, cc. 52, 187; 2013, cc. 20, 380; 2014, cc. 295, 343; 2019, c. 740.
A. Except as otherwise provided in § 6.2-1701.3, no individual shall engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator unless such individual has first obtained and maintains annually a license under this chapter.
B. The following shall be exempt from licensing and other provisions of this chapter:
1. Any individual engaged solely as a loan processor or underwriter. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, an individual acting as an independent contractor may not engage in residential mortgage loan origination activities as a loan processor or underwriter unless such individual has first obtained and maintains annually a mortgage loan originator license;
2. Any individual who only performs administrative or clerical tasks on behalf of a mortgage loan originator;
3. Any individual who only performs real estate brokerage activities and is licensed or registered in accordance with applicable law, unless the individual is compensated directly or indirectly by the lender, a mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan originator or by any agent of such lender, mortgage broker, or other mortgage loan originator;
4. Any individual solely involved in extensions of credit relating to timeshare plans, as that term is defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101 (53D);
5. A registered mortgage loan originator;
6. Any individual who offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan with or on behalf of an immediate family member of the individual;
7. Any individual who acts as a loan originator in providing financing for the sale of that individual's own residence;
8. A licensed attorney, provided that the attorney's mortgage loan origination activities are: (i) considered by the Supreme Court of Virginia to be part of the authorized practice of law within the Commonwealth, (ii) carried out within an attorney-client relationship, and (iii) accomplished by the attorney in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, ethics, and standards;
9. Any employee of federal, state, or local government, or a housing finance agency, who acts as a mortgage loan originator only pursuant to his official duties of employment. For the purposes of this subdivision, "local government" means any county, city, or town or other local or regional political subdivision; and
10. Any employee of a bona fide nonprofit organization, as determined by the Commission in accordance with § 6.2-1701.1, who acts as a mortgage loan originator only (i) pursuant to his official duties of employment and (ii) with respect to residential mortgage loans with terms that are favorable to a borrower.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.2; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187; 2013, cc. 20, 380; 2014, cc. 295, 343; 2019, c. 740.
A. The Commission shall prescribe by regulation (i) the procedures and criteria that it will use to determine whether an organization is a bona fide nonprofit organization and (ii) the information and fees that must be submitted by an organization to the Commission in connection with a request for a determination under this section. In establishing the criteria for a bona fide nonprofit organization, the Commission shall give consideration to the criteria that have been adopted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or any other federal agency with rulemaking authority under the Act.
B. The Commission shall, as often as it deems necessary, investigate and periodically examine the business activities, books, and records of any bona fide nonprofit organization insofar as they pertain to the criteria that the Commission has prescribed pursuant to clause (i) of subsection A. In the course of such investigations and examinations, the organization being investigated or examined shall, upon demand of the person making such investigation or examination, afford full access to all books, records, and information that the person making such investigation or examination deems necessary.
C. The Commission may, after providing notice and an opportunity for a hearing, revoke its determination that an organization is a bona fide nonprofit organization if it finds that the organization no longer meets the criteria prescribed by the Commission pursuant to clause (i) of subsection A.
Repealed by Acts 2019, c. 740, cl. 2, effective July 1, 2019.
A. An individual shall be deemed to have temporary authority to act as a mortgage loan originator in the Commonwealth to the extent authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions prescribed in, § 1518 of the Act.
B. A mortgage lender or mortgage broker that employs an individual who is deemed to have temporary authority to act as a mortgage loan originator in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter and Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.) to the same extent that such mortgage lender or mortgage broker would be subject to such requirements if such individual were a licensed mortgage loan originator under this chapter.
C. An individual who is deemed to have temporary authority to act as a mortgage loan originator in the Commonwealth pursuant to this section and acts as a mortgage loan originator shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter to the same extent as if such individual was a licensed mortgage loan originator under this chapter.
2019, c. 740.
A. An application for a license under this chapter shall be on a form provided by the Registry.
B. The application shall set forth:
1. The name and residential address of the applicant;
2. The address of the applicant's employer or the address where the applicant will act as a mortgage loan originator, as applicable; and
3. Such other information concerning the financial responsibility, background, experience, and activities of the applicant as the Commissioner may require.
C. The application shall be accompanied by payment of an application fee in an amount not to exceed $150, or a lesser amount as may be prescribed by the Commission. The application fee shall be in addition to any other fees payable by the applicant, including but not limited to fees for pre-licensing education and testing, fingerprinting, criminal background checks, credit reports, or administrative fees charged by the Registry.
D. The application fee shall not be refundable in any event. The fee shall not be abated by surrender, suspension, or revocation of the license.
A. The application for a license shall be accompanied by a bond to be filed with the Commission with corporate surety authorized to execute such bond in the Commonwealth, the form of which shall be approved by the Commission.
1. If the applicant is not an employee or exclusive agent of a person licensed or exempt from licensing under Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.), the bond shall be an individual surety bond for the applicant; or
2. If the applicant is an employee or exclusive agent of a person licensed or exempt from licensing under Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.), the bond shall be a surety bond filed by such person covering all such employees and exclusive agents holding or applying for a license as a mortgage loan originator.
B. The amount of the bond shall be $25,000, or such greater sum as the Commission may require based on the total dollar amount of residential mortgage loans originated in the preceding calendar year by (i) the applicant, in the case of the bond referred to in subdivision A 1 or (ii) the person licensed or exempt from licensing under Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.), in the case of the bond referred to in subdivision A 2. A bond already filed with the Commission pursuant to § 6.2-1604 may be applied toward the minimum bond required by this section, subject to approval by the Commission. In the case of the bond referred to in subdivision A 2, it shall be the responsibility of the person licensed or exempt from licensing under Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.) to provide information, in a form satisfactory to the Commission, sufficient for determining and verifying the total dollar amount of residential mortgage loans originated in the preceding calendar year.
C. Such bond shall be continuously maintained thereafter in full force.
D. Such bond shall be conditioned upon the licensee: (i) performing all written agreements with borrowers or prospective borrowers; (ii) correctly and accurately accounting for all funds received by him in the course of his business activities as a licensee; and (iii) conducting himself in conformity with this chapter and all applicable laws and regulations.
E. Any person who may be damaged by noncompliance of a licensee with any condition of such bond may proceed on such bond against the principal or surety thereon, or both, to recover damages. The aggregate liability under the bond shall not exceed the penal sum of the bond.
A. In connection with an application for licensing as a mortgage loan originator, the applicant shall furnish to the Registry information concerning the applicant's identity, including fingerprints for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any federal or state governmental agency or entity authorized to receive such information for a state, national, and international criminal history background check, as prescribed by the Commission.
B. The applicant shall also submit personal history and experience in a form prescribed by the Registry, including submission of authorization for the Registry and the Commission to obtain (i) an independent credit report from a consumer reporting agency described in § 603(p) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), and (ii) information related to any administrative, civil, or criminal findings by any governmental jurisdiction.
C. For the purposes of this section and in order to reduce the points of contact that the Federal Bureau of Investigation may be required to maintain, the Commission may use the Registry as a channeling agent for requesting information from, and distributing information to, the Department of Justice, other governmental agency, or any other source.
In connection with its administration and enforcement of this chapter, the Commission is authorized to establish agreements or contracts with the Registry or other entities designated by the Registry to collect, distribute, and maintain information and records, and to process transaction fees and other fees, related to licensees and other persons subject to this chapter. When establishing such agreements or contracts the Commission shall not be subject to the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.). Notwithstanding the provisions of § 6.2-101, the Commission shall report regularly to the Registry any violations of this chapter, enforcement actions, and license status changes. The Commission shall report to the Registry only those violations, actions, and license status changes effected by final order of the Commission or by the Commissioner pursuant to his delegated authority.
Upon the filing and investigation of an application for a license and compliance by the applicant with all applicable provisions of this chapter, the Commission shall issue and deliver to the applicant the license applied for to engage in business under this chapter if it finds that the financial responsibility, character, and general fitness of the applicant are such as to warrant belief that the licensee will act as a mortgage loan originator efficiently and fairly, in the public interest, and in accordance with law. If the Commission fails to make such findings, no license shall be issued and the Commissioner shall notify the applicant of the denial and the reasons for such denial. The Commission shall not base a license denial, in whole or in part, on an applicant's credit score, nor shall it use a credit report as the sole basis for license denial.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.7; 2010, c. 794; 2014, cc. 295, 343; 2019, c. 740.
In addition to the findings required by § 6.2-1706, the Commission shall not issue a mortgage loan originator license unless it finds that:
1. The applicant has never had a mortgage loan originator license revoked by any governmental authority;
2. The applicant has not been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony in a domestic, foreign, or military court (i) during the seven-year period preceding the application for licensing and registration; or (ii) at any time preceding such date of application if such felony involved an act of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering;
3. The applicant has completed the pre-licensing education requirement described in § 6.2-1708;
4. The applicant has passed a written test that meets the test requirement described in § 6.2-1709; and
5. The applicant has become registered through, and obtained a unique identifier from, the Registry.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.8; 2010, c. 794; 2014, cc. 295, 343; 2019, c. 740.
A. In order to meet the pre-licensing education requirement referred to in subdivision 3 of § 6.2-1707, an applicant shall complete at least 20 hours of pre-licensing education courses, approved in accordance with subsection B, which shall include at least (i) three hours of federal law and regulations; (ii) three hours of ethics, which shall include instruction about fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues; and (iii) two hours of training related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.
B. Pre-licensing education courses shall be reviewed and approved by the Registry based upon reasonable standards. Review and approval of a course shall include review and approval of the course provider.
C. Nothing in this section shall preclude the provision of any pre-licensing education course that has been approved by the Registry by: (i) the employer of the applicant; (ii) an entity that is affiliated with the applicant by any agency contract; or (iii) a subsidiary or affiliate of such employer or entity.
D. Pre-licensing education courses may be offered in a classroom, online, or by any other means approved by the Registry.
E. Except as otherwise provided by the Commission, pre-licensing education courses shall be subject to such expiration rules as may be established by the Registry. Expired courses shall not count toward the minimum number of hours of pre-licensing education required by subsection A.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.9; 2010, c. 794; 2019, c. 740.
A. In order to meet the written test requirement referred to in subdivision 4 of § 6.2-1707, an individual shall pass, in accordance with reasonable standards established under this section, a qualified written test that has been developed by the Registry and administered by a test provider approved by the Registry.
B. A written test shall not be a qualified written test for purposes of subsection A unless the test adequately measures the applicant's knowledge and comprehension in appropriate subject areas, including: (i) ethics; (ii) federal law and regulation pertaining to mortgage loan origination; (iii) state law pertaining to mortgage loan origination; and (iv) federal and state law and regulation pertaining to fraud, consumer protection, the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace, and fair lending issues.
C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a test provider approved by the Registry from providing a test at a location of: (i) the employer of the applicant; (ii) any subsidiary or affiliate of the employer; or (iii) any entity with which the applicant maintains an exclusive arrangement to act as a mortgage loan originator.
D. An individual shall not be considered to have passed a qualified written test unless he has correctly answered at least 75 percent of the test questions. An individual may take a test three consecutive times with each consecutive taking occurring at least 30 days after the preceding test. After failing three consecutive tests, an individual shall wait at least six months before retaking the test. A licensed mortgage loan originator who fails to maintain a valid license for a period of five years or longer, exclusive of any period during which such individual is a registered mortgage loan originator, shall retake the test and correctly answer at least 75 percent of the test questions.
E. An applicant who has successfully completed pre-licensing education and testing that is mandated by the Act and approved by the Registry for any state shall be deemed to have completed Virginia's pre-licensing education and testing requirements, other than any limited or separate state testing requirements relating to Virginia law and regulation as described in subsection B.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.10; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187.
A. A licensed mortgage loan originator shall complete annually at least eight hours of continuing education courses approved in accordance with subsection B, which shall include at least: (i) three hours related to federal law and regulations; (ii) two hours related to ethics, which shall include instruction about fraud, consumer protection, and fair lending issues; and (iii) two hours related to lending standards for the nontraditional mortgage product marketplace.
B. Continuing education courses shall be reviewed and approved by the Registry based upon reasonable standards. Review and approval of a continuing education course shall include review and approval of the course provider.
C. Nothing in this section shall preclude the provision of any continuing education course that has been approved by the Registry by: (i) the employer of the mortgage loan originator; (ii) an entity that is affiliated with the mortgage loan originator by an agency contract; or (iii) a subsidiary or affiliate of such employer or entity.
D. Continuing education courses may be offered in a classroom, online, or by any means approved by the Registry.
E. A licensed mortgage loan originator may only receive credit for a continuing education course in the year in which the course is taken and may not take the same approved course in the same or successive years to meet the annual requirements for continuing education.
F. A licensed mortgage loan originator who is an instructor of an approved continuing education course may receive credit for his annual continuing education requirement at the rate of two hours of credit for every one hour of teaching.
G. A licensed mortgage loan originator who has successfully completed Registry-approved continuing education courses that satisfy the requirements of subsection A for any state shall be deemed to have satisfied the continuing education requirements of this chapter.
A. Each license shall state fully the name and address of record of the licensee. Each licensee shall be required to display proof of licensing upon request, and to prominently display at any location where he acts as a mortgage loan originator the telephone numbers and Internet addresses for the Registry and the Commission where consumers and other interested parties may confirm the status of his license. Licenses shall not be transferable or assignable, by operation of law or otherwise. Except as otherwise provided by the Commission, no licensee shall use any name, in acting as a mortgage loan originator, other than the name set forth on the license issued by the Commission.
B. Every licensee shall within 10 days notify the Commissioner, in writing, of any change of residential or business address and provide such other information with respect to any such change as the Commissioner may reasonably require.
C. Every license shall remain in force until it expires or has been surrendered, revoked, or suspended. The expiration, surrender, revocation, or suspension of a license shall not affect any preexisting legal right or obligation of the licensee. In addition:
1. Except as otherwise provided by the Commission, licenses shall expire at the end of each calendar year. A licensee may request renewal by (i) filing a license renewal application through the Registry, (ii) paying the annual license renewal fee prescribed in § 6.2-1714, (iii) obtaining the continuing education prescribed in § 6.2-1710, and (iv) furnishing such other information as may be required by the Commission;
2. The Commission shall renew an individual's license if the Commission finds that the individual has complied with the requirements of this chapter and continues to meet the conditions for initial licensure. If the Commission fails to make the findings required by this subdivision, the Commission shall not renew the individual's license. In determining whether to renew a license, the Commission shall consider whether the licensee has violated state or federal law; and
3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Commission may by regulation permit a former licensee to seek license reinstatement after the license expiration date by requesting renewal in accordance with subdivision 1 and paying a reinstatement fee as prescribed by the Commission.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.12; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187.
Repealed by Acts 2011, c. 435, cl. 3, effective July 1, 2012.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the Commission finds that an individual has applied for a mortgage loan originator license and meets all applicable requirements for licensure except § 6.2-1703, then the Commission shall issue a mortgage loan originator license to the applicant. However, the license issued by the Commission shall be inactive by operation of law until the Commission has updated the licensee's status in the Registry pursuant to subsection D.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the Commission finds that an individual has requested renewal of his mortgage loan originator license in accordance with subsection C of § 6.2-1711 and meets all applicable requirements for license renewal except § 6.2-1703, then the Commission shall renew the individual's mortgage loan originator license. However, the license renewed by the Commission shall be inactive by operation of law until the Commission has updated the licensee's status in the Registry pursuant to subsection D.
C. If at any time a licensee ceases to be covered by a surety bond meeting the requirements of § 6.2-1703, then the individual's license shall be inactive by operation of law until the Commission has updated the licensee's status in the Registry pursuant to subsection D.
D. If a licensee's mortgage loan originator license is inactive by operation of law pursuant to this section, then the licensee shall not engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator until (i) the Commission has determined that the licensee is covered by a surety bond meeting the requirements of § 6.2-1703 and (ii) based upon its determination, the Commission has updated the licensee's status in the Registry to indicate that the licensee may engage in the business of a mortgage loan originator.
The Commission may, by its designated officers and employees, as often as it deems necessary, investigate and examine the business activities, premises, and records of any individual required to be licensed under this chapter insofar as they pertain to any activities for which a license is required by this chapter. In the course of such investigations and examinations, the individual being investigated or examined shall, upon demand of the person making such investigation or examination, afford full access to all persons, premises, books, records, and information that the person making such investigation or examination deems necessary. For the foregoing purposes, the person making such investigation or examination shall have authority to administer oaths, examine under oath all the aforementioned individuals, and compel the production of papers and objects of all kinds.
A. In order to defray the costs of his examination, supervision, and regulation, every licensee shall pay an annual license renewal fee. The fee shall be $100 unless another amount is prescribed by the Commission. The renewal fee shall be paid by the licensee to the State Treasurer or through the Registry, as determined by the Commission, on or before the end of each license year.
B. When it becomes necessary to examine or investigate the books and records of an individual required to be licensed under this chapter at a location outside the Commonwealth, the individual shall be liable for and shall pay to the Commission within 30 days of the presentation of an itemized statement, the actual travel and reasonable living expenses incurred on account of his examination, supervision, and regulation, or shall pay a reasonable per diem rate approved by the Commission. Any sums due pursuant to this subsection shall be in addition to the annual fee prescribed in subsection A.
C. If an individual is an employee or exclusive agent of a person licensed under Chapter 16 (§ 6.2-1600 et seq.), the expenses referred to in subsection B shall be paid by the licensed mortgage lender or mortgage broker.
A. No individual required to be licensed under this chapter shall use or cause to be published any advertisement that:
1. Contains any false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation; or
2. Except as otherwise provided by the Commission, identifies a licensee by any name other than the name set forth on the license issued by the Commission.
B. No licensee shall use the unique identifier obtained from the Registry for any purpose other than the purposes of the Act and this chapter.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.16; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187.
The Commission may suspend or revoke any license issued under this chapter based upon:
1. Any ground sufficient for denial of the issuance of a license under this chapter;
2. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted by the Commission pursuant thereto, or a violation of any other law or regulation applicable to the conduct of the licensee's licensed activities;
3. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;
4. Entry of a judgment against a licensee involving fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit;
5. Entry of a federal or state administrative order against a licensee for violation of any law or any regulation applicable to the conduct of his licensed activities;
6. Refusal to permit an investigation or examination by the Commission;
7. Failure to pay any fee or assessment imposed by this chapter;
8. Failure to comply with any order of the Commission; or
9. Failure to maintain registration with, or a unique identifier from, the Registry.
Within 15 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of any of the events listed below, a licensee shall file a written report with the Commissioner describing such event:
1. The institution of revocation or suspension proceedings against the licensee by any state or other governmental authority;
2. The denial of the opportunity to engage in business by any state or other governmental authority;
3. Any felony indictment of the licensee;
4. Any felony conviction of the licensee; and
5. Such other events as the Commission may determine and identify by regulation.
The Commission may not revoke or suspend the license of any licensee under this chapter unless it has given the licensee 21 days' notice in writing of the reasons for the proposed revocation or suspension and has given the licensee an opportunity to introduce evidence and be heard. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the licensee's last address on the Commission's records and shall state with particularity the basis for the contemplated action. Within 14 days of mailing the notice, the licensee may file with the clerk of the Commission a written request for a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the Commission shall not suspend or revoke the license except based upon findings made at such hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 12.1.
The Commission may impose a civil penalty not exceeding $2,500 upon any individual required to be licensed under this chapter who it determines, in proceedings commenced in accordance with the Commission's Rules, has violated any of the provisions of this chapter or any other law or regulation applicable to the licensee's activities. For the purposes of this section, each separate violation shall be subject to the civil penalty herein prescribed, and each day that an unlicensed individual engages in the business of a mortgage loan originator shall constitute a separate violation.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.20; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187.
A. The Commission shall adopt such regulations as it deems appropriate to effect the purposes of this chapter. Before adopting any such regulations, the Commission shall give reasonable notice of their content and shall afford interested parties an opportunity to present evidence and be heard, in accordance with the Commission's Rules.
B. The Commission shall, to the extent practicable, include in any written memorandum of understanding or other written agreement between the Commission and the Registry provisions substantially similar to the following:
1. Any organization serving as the administrator of the Registry or any officer or employee of any such entity shall implement and maintain an information security program that meets or exceeds federal and state standards pursuant to § 18.2-186.6 and that complies with the regulation guidelines promulgated under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (15 U.S.C. § 6801 et seq.) for safeguarding personal information of mortgage loan originators and applicants;
2. The Registry shall not under any circumstances disclose to any third party any information pertaining to any pending or incompletely adjudicated regulatory matters;
3. The Registry shall develop, as requested by the Commission, a mortgage loan originator licensing test that may be limited to specific products and services; and
4. The Registry shall provide to the Commission summary statistical information by March 31 of each year relating to loan originator examinations taken by applicants for a mortgage loan originator license in the Commonwealth during the preceding calendar year.
C. Except as otherwise provided in the Act or this chapter, any requirement under federal or state law regarding the privacy or confidentiality of any information or material provided to the Registry, and any privilege arising under federal or state law, including the rules of any federal or state court, with respect to such information or material, shall continue to apply to such information or material after the information or material has been disclosed to the Registry. Such information and material may be shared with all state and federal regulatory officials with mortgage industry oversight authority without the loss of privilege or the loss of confidentiality protections provided by federal or state law. In addition:
1. Information or material that is subject to privilege or confidentiality under this subsection shall not be subject to: (i) disclosure under any federal or state law governing the disclosure to the public of information held by an officer or an agency of the federal government or the Commonwealth or (ii) subpoena or discovery, or admission into evidence, in any private civil action or administrative process, unless with respect to any privilege held by the Registry with respect to such information or material, the individual to whom such information or material pertains waives, in whole or in part, in the discretion of such individual, that privilege;
2. Any provision of the laws of the Commonwealth relating to the disclosure of confidential supervisory information or any information or material described in this subsection that is inconsistent with this subsection shall be superseded by the requirements of this subsection to the extent that such provision provides less confidentiality or a weaker privilege; and
3. This subsection shall not apply with respect to the information or material relating to the employment history of, and publicly adjudicated disciplinary and enforcement actions against, mortgage loan originators that is included in the Registry for access by the public.
D. The Commission shall:
1. Annually review the proposed budget, fees, and audited financial statements of the Registry;
2. Annually, to the extent practicable, report to the House Committee on Labor and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor on the operations of the Registry, including compliance with its established protocols for securing and safeguarding personal information in the Registry;
3. To the extent practicable, prepare, publicly announce, and publish a report, by no later than July 1 of each year, that summarizes statistical test results and demographic information to be prepared by the Registry or its test administrator; and
4. Report violations of this chapter, any enforcement actions thereunder, and other relevant information to the Registry on a regular basis.
2009, cc. 273, 453, § 6.1-431.21; 2010, c. 794; 2012, cc. 52, 187.
A. If the Commission determines that any mortgage loan originator required to be licensed hereunder has violated any provision of this chapter or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto, the Commission may, upon 21 days' notice in writing, order such person to cease and desist from such practices and to comply with the provisions of this chapter. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the address of record in the Registry for such mortgage loan originator and shall state the grounds for the contemplated action.
B. Within 14 days after the mailing of the notice, the person named therein may file with the clerk of the Commission a written request for a hearing. If a hearing is requested, the Commission shall not issue a cease and desist order except based upon findings made at the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Title 12.1. The Commission may enforce compliance with any such order issued under this section by imposition and collection of such penalties as may be prescribed by Commission regulations.
2011, c. 435.