(a) Appraiser classifications shall be granted only to persons who bear a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact real estate appraisal activity in such manner as to safeguard the interests of the public and only after satisfactory proof of such qualifications has been presented to the board.

(b)(1) As used in this subsection, the term:

(A) "Conviction" means a finding or verdict of guilty or a plea of guilty, regardless of whether an appeal of the conviction has been brought; a sentencing to first offender treatment without an adjudication of guilt pursuant to a charge of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude; or a plea of nolo contendere to a charge of a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.

(B) "Felony" includes any offense which, if committed in this state, would be deemed a felony, without regard to its designation elsewhere.

(2) Where an applicant for an appraiser classification has been convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction of this or any other state, district, or territory of the United States, or of a foreign country of the offense of forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, theft, extortion, or conspiracy to defraud or other like offense or offenses or has been convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, such conviction in itself may be a sufficient ground for refusal of an appraiser classification. An applicant for an appraiser classification who has been convicted of any offense enumerated in this paragraph may be issued an appraiser classification by the board only if:

(A) At least five years have passed since the applicant was convicted, sentenced, or released from any incarceration, whichever is later;

(B) No criminal charges are pending against the applicant; and

(C) The applicant presents to the board satisfactory proof that the applicant now bears a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact real estate appraisal activity in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public.

(c) Where an applicant or an appraiser has been found guilty of a violation of the federal fair housing law or Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 by an administrative law judge or a court of competent jurisdiction and after any appeal of such conviction is concluded, such conviction may in itself be a sufficient ground for refusal of an appraiser classification or the imposition of any sanction permitted by this chapter.

(d) Where an applicant or an appraiser has made a false statement of material fact on an application or caused to be submitted or been a party to preparing or submitting any falsified application to the board, such action may, in itself, be a sufficient ground for the refusal, suspension, or revocation of the appraiser classification. (e) Grounds for suspension or revocation of an appraiser classification, as provided for by this chapter, shall also be grounds for refusal to grant an appraiser classification.

(f) The conduct provided for in subsections (a) through (d) and subsection (h) of this Code section which relates to the denial of an appraiser classification to an applicant shall also be grounds for the imposition of any sanction permitted by this chapter when the conduct is that of an appraiser.

(g) Whenever the board initiates an investigation as provided in Code Section 43-39A-22 to determine whether an appraiser has violated any provision of this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter and such appraiser:

(1) Voluntarily surrenders an appraiser classification to the board;

(2) Allows an appraiser classification to lapse due to failure to meet education requirements provided by law; or

(3) Allows an appraiser classification to lapse due to failure to pay any required fees,

and if such surrender or lapsing takes place after the board has initiated an investigation pursuant to Code Section 43-39A-22 but before the board files a notice of hearing, the board may issue an order revoking the appraiser's appraiser classification and provide a copy of such order to the appraiser. The order will be effective ten days after the appraiser receives a copy of the order unless the appraiser makes a written request for a hearing before the board, in which event the board will file a notice of hearing in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act." If such surrender or lapsing occurs after the board has filed a notice of hearing alleging that such appraiser has violated any provision of this chapter or the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter but before the board enters a final order in the matter, then upon submission of a new application by such person the matters asserted in the notice of hearing shall be deemed admitted and may be used by the board as grounds for refusal of a new appraiser classification to such person.

(h) Whenever any occupational licensing body of this state, any other state, or any foreign country has sanctioned any license or classification of an applicant for any appraiser classification or whenever such an applicant has allowed a license or classification to lapse or has surrendered a license or classification to any occupational licensing body of this state, any other state, or any foreign country after that occupational licensing body has initiated an investigation or a disciplinary process regarding such applicant's licensure or classification, such sanction, lapsing, or surrender in itself may be a sufficient ground for refusal of an appraiser classification. Whenever any occupational licensing body of this state, any other state, or any foreign country has revoked the license or classification of an applicant for a classification or whenever such an applicant has allowed a license or classification to lapse or has surrendered a license or classification to any occupational licensing body of this state, any other state, or any foreign country after that body has initiated an investigation or a disciplinary process regarding such applicant's license or classification, the board may issue an appraiser classification only if:

(1) At least five years have passed since the date that the applicant's occupational registration, license, or certification was revoked;

(2) No criminal charges are pending against the applicant at the time of application; and

(3) The applicant presents to the board satisfactory proof that the applicant now bears a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact real estate appraisal activity in such a manner as to safeguard the interests of the public.

(i) Whenever any appraiser is convicted of any offense enumerated in subsection (b) of this Code section, such appraiser must immediately notify the board of that conviction. Such appraiser's appraiser classification shall automatically be revoked 60 days after the conviction unless the appraiser makes a written request to the board for a hearing during that 60 day period. Following any such hearing held pursuant to this subsection, the board in its discretion may impose upon that appraiser any sanction permitted by this chapter.

(j) Where an applicant or licensee has been found not in compliance with an order for child support as provided in Code Section 19-6-28.1 or 19-11-9.3, such action is sufficient grounds for refusal of a license or suspension of a license. For purposes of this subsection, the hearing and appeal procedures provided for in such Code sections shall be the only such procedures required under this article.

(k) Where an applicant or licensee has been found to be a borrower in default who is not in satisfactory repayment status as provided in Code Section 20-3-295, such finding is sufficient grounds for refusal of a license or suspension of a license. For purposes of this subsection, the hearing and appeal procedures provided for in Code Section 20-3-295 shall be the only such procedures required under this article.

(l) Where the board has previously sanctioned any applicant for a classification under Chapter 13 of Title 50, the "Georgia Administrative Procedure Act," such sanction may in itself be a sufficient ground for refusing the classification.