§ 50-1128 — State bank commissioner; powers and duties; confidentiality of examination reports and material

This act shall be administered by the commissioner. In addition to other powers granted by this act, the commissioner, within the limitations provided by law, may exercise the following powers:
(a) Adopt, amend and revoke rules and regulations as necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this act.
(b) Make any investigation and examination of the operations, books and records of a credit services organization, as the commissioner deems necessary to aid in the enforcement of this act.
(1) The commissioner, or the commissioner's designee, shall have free and reasonable access to the offices, places of business and all records of the licensee that relate to the debt management or credit services organization business. The commissioner may designate persons, including comparable officials of the state in which the records are located, to inspect the records on the commissioner's behalf.
(2) The commissioner may charge reasonable costs of investigation, examination and administration of this act, to be paid by the applicant or licensee, in such amounts as the commissioner may determine to be sufficient to meet the budget requirements of the commissioner for each fiscal year. The commissioner may maintain an action in any court to recover such costs.
(c) To order any licensee or person to cease any activity or practice which the commissioner deems to be deceptive, dishonest, or a violation of this act, or of other state or federal law, or unduly harmful to the interests of the public.
(d) (1) Exchange any information regarding the administration of this act with any agency of the United States or any state which regulates the applicant or licensee or administers statutes, rules and regulations or programs related to debt management or credit services organization laws.
(2) Examination reports and correspondence regarding such reports made by the commissioner or the commissioner's designees shall be confidential. The commissioner may release examination reports and correspondence regarding the reports in connection with a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the commissioner, a liquidation proceeding or a criminal investigation or proceeding. Additionally, the commissioner may furnish to federal or other state regulatory agencies or any officer or examiner thereof, a copy of any or all examination reports and correspondence regarding the reports made by the commissioner or the commissioner's designees.
(e) Disclose to any person or entity that an applicant's or licensee's application or license has been denied, suspended, revoked or refused renewal.
(f) Require or permit any person to file a written statement, under oath or otherwise as the commissioner may direct, setting forth all the facts and circumstances concerning any apparent violation of this act, any rule and regulation promulgated hereunder, or any order issued pursuant to this act.
(g) Receive, as a condition in settlement of any investigation or examination, a payment designated for consumer education to be expended for such purpose as directed by the commissioner.
(h) Delegate the authority to sign any orders, official documents or papers issued under or related to this act to the deputy of consumer and mortgage lending in the office of the state bank commissioner.
(i) Require fingerprinting of any licensee in accordance with K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 22-4714, and amendments thereto. For purposes of this section and in order to reduce the points of contact that the federal bureau of investigation may have to maintain with the individual states, the commissioner may use the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry as a channeling agent for requesting information from and distributing information to the department of justice or any governmental agency.
(j) Use the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry as a channeling agent for requesting and distributing information regarding credit services organization licensing to and from any source so directed by the commissioner.
(k) Establish relationships or contracts with the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry or other entities to collect and maintain records and process transaction fees or other fees related to applicants, licensees or other persons subject to this act, and to take other such actions as may be reasonably necessary to participate in the nationwide mortgage licensing system and registry.
(l) Charge, establish and collect from licensees such fees as are necessary and in such amounts as the commissioner may determine to be sufficient to meet the expense requirements of the commissioner in administering this act.
(m) Seize and distribute a licensee's trust account funds to protect consumers and the public interest.
(n) For the purpose of any examination, investigation or proceeding under this act, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel such witnesses' attendance, adduce evidence and require the production of any matter which is relevant to the examination or investigation, including the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any books, documents or other tangible things and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts, or any other matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of relevant information or items.
(o) To enter into any informal agreement with any person for a plan of action to address violations of this act. The adoption of an informal agreement authorized by this subsection shall not be subject to the provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act or the Kansas judicial review act. Any informal agreement authorized by this subsection shall not be considered an order or other agency action, and shall be considered confidential examination material pursuant to K.S.A. 50-1128(d), and amendments thereto. All such examination material shall be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to the open records act, shall not be subject to subpoena and shall not be subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action.
(p) Issue, amend and revoke written administrative guidance documents in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Kansas administrative procedure act.

Legislative History

L. 2004, ch. 22, § 13; L. 2017, ch. 52, § 24; L. 2022, ch. 62, § 7; L. 2024, ch. 15, § 37; July 1.