Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/7404/full
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 05:52:20
Document Index: 434245616

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 7404', 'art 1', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 2', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 1', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'arts 7406', 'art 7404', 'art 7410', 'art 7406', 'art 2', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'arts 3', 'art 7404', 'arts 3', 'arts 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 7404', 'art 1', 'art 7404', 'art 5', 'arts 7404', 'art 8', 'art 7404', 'art 4', 'art 7404', 'art 1', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'art 7404', 'art 4', 'art 8', 'art 8', 'arts 7406', 'arts 7406', 'art 7406', 'art 7406', 'art 7404', 'art 7']

﻿ 7404 - MN Rules Chapter
CHAPTER 7404, DRIVER LICENSING AGENTS
7404.0200 PURPOSE.
7404.0305 ADDITIONAL OFFICE LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS.
7404.0310 EXCEPTIONS.
7404.0330 MOVE OF EXISTING OFFICE LOCATION.
7404.0340 DEPUTY REGISTRAR AS LIMITED LICENSING AGENT.
7404.0345 DEPUTY REGISTRAR AS LICENSING AGENT.
7404.0360 COMMISSIONER'S APPOINTMENT PROCEDURE.
7404.0370 APPOINTMENT OF AGENT.
ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS; INDEMNIFICATION
7404.0800 ACTIONS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH LAWS OR RULES.
7404.0900 INDEMNIFICATION.
The purpose of this chapter is to carry out the mandate of the legislature as set forth in Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061, with respect to the appointment and regulation of driver's license agents.
MS s 171.061
23 SR 1454
Before appointing an agent, the commissioner must approve a proposed location for an agent office. In addition to the information and conditions specified in part 7404.0300, the commissioner shall consider the factors described in this part when considering a proposed office location:
the cost to the state to audit, monitor, and train the agent and staff at the office; and
Disapproval of proposed office location.
If a request for an office location is not approved, the commissioner shall notify the individual proposing the office location in writing and provide a statement of the reason for the disapproval. The statement must notify the individual that, within 30 days from the day the notice was mailed, the individual may appeal the disapproval to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a contested case hearing under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, if a factor in subpart 1 was cited for disapproval and disapproval was not due to a failure to meet the distance or transaction requirements for office location.
One agent per county bureau.
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 373.33 and 373.35, if the county board designates the county license bureau director as a licensing agent, the license bureau director is responsible for all bureau sites where applications are accepted in the county. Each bureau site where applications are accepted must meet the criteria for establishment of an office as specified in part 7404.0300.
Low-volume existing office; county board decision.
Notwithstanding part 7404.0300, an agent may be appointed at an existing office location upon the death, resignation, discontinuance, or retirement of an existing agent whose office does not comply with the application numbers for the establishment of an office specified in part 7404.0300, plus or minus two percent of the average application numbers in the preceding three years, only if:
the county board notifies the commissioner within one week after the next regularly scheduled county board meeting or within 60 days after the death, resignation, discontinuance, or retirement of the existing agent, that the county board wants to designate an agent for appointment by the commissioner and maintain that existing office location;
the county board designates a new agent for appointment by the commissioner and verifies to the commissioner that the individual meets the requirements for an agent specified in part 7404.0360 within 60 days from the time the vacancy occurred;
there is not another existing office or state-operated application site located within the distances specified in part 7404.0300; and
the county board or the new agent agrees to procure and maintain:
the photo identification equipment, unless the office was in existence on January 1, 2000;
the vision-testing equipment unless the office was in existence before January 5, 1999; and
any other equipment or inventory necessary to process applications.
Low-volume location; commissioner's appointment.
If the county board declines to designate an agent for appointment by the commissioner at the existing low-volume location described in subpart 2, the appointment of the agent and all state-provided inventory and equipment reverts to the commissioner.
The commissioner shall decide whether to appoint another agent at the existing low-volume office within six months after notice by the county board that it will not designate another agent for appointment by the commissioner.
The commissioner shall appoint an agent at the existing office with a low application volume and procure and maintain the photo identification, vision-testing equipment, and any other equipment or inventory necessary to process applications for the site only if the office is not in a metropolitan county and there is not another application site, including state-operated application sites, within 35 miles of the existing low-volume office.
Minimum distance exception.
Notwithstanding part 7404.0300, a new agent may be appointed at an office location in existence as of January 1, 1999, which does not meet the minimum distance in part 7404.0300, if the number of applications accepted by the office meet or exceed the minimums specified in part 7404.0300 during each of the three years preceding the date of application for a new agent appointment.
A move of an existing office must meet the requirements of part 7404.0300, be within the same county, and be approved by the commissioner before the move. This part does not apply to the location of state-operated application or examination sites.
An agent may apply to the commissioner for a variance from the requirements of subpart 1, except that no existing office is allowed to move to a different county.
An agent may apply for a variance by submitting a written request to the commissioner.
The variance request must specify and the commissioner shall consider the following factors when reviewing the variance request:
each rule part from which the variance is requested and why the proposed office location does not meet requirements of part 7404.0300;
the distance of the proposed office location from the agent's existing office;
whether the proposed office location would serve the same community or neighborhood and is in close proximity to the original location;
any comments in opposition or support from other existing agent offices of the proposed office location;
building considerations of the proposed office location including:
parking space; and
compliance with part 7404.0400;
whether the proposed move is a result of or in connection with misfeasance or malfeasance on the part of the agent; and
other information requested by the commissioner or supplied by the agent.
The commissioner shall review the request for a variance and grant or deny it within 60 days after its receipt or within 60 days after the date of the commissioner's request for additional information, whichever is later.
The commissioner shall give the agent written justification for a decision to deny the variance.
Failure to submit the required information under this subpart within 30 days of the commissioner's request for information is cause to deny an agent's request for a variance.
Right to review commissioner's decision.
An agent may contest the denial of a variance of the commissioner by requesting a hearing.
The agent shall submit, within 15 days of the receipt of the commissioner's decision, a request for a hearing.
The request for a hearing must set forth in detail the reasons why the agent contends the decision of the commissioner should be changed.
The hearing must follow the hearing procedures in parts 7406.1100 to 7406.2600.
Deputy registrar as limited licensing agent.
Notwithstanding part 7404.0300, as of January 22, 2008, all deputy registrars appointed by the commissioner under chapter 7406 and Minnesota Statutes, section 168.33, must also be appointed by the commissioner to assume the duties of a limited licensing agent as specified in this part.
Limited licensing agent.
A limited licensing agent shall accept applications only for a duplicate driver's license or duplicate Minnesota identification card.
The duties of a limited licensing agent must not require the use of equipment to capture the image or signature or to test the vision of an applicant.
A limited licensing agent shall accept an application for a duplicate driver's license or duplicate state identification card if:
the state document is lost, stolen, destroyed, illegible, or mutilated beyond recognition during the period of validation; or
the applicant is required to change the residence address on the state-issued document.
The procedures in part 7410.0450 for issuance of a duplicate driver's license or duplicate identification card apply.
The applicant's digital image and signature must be on file with the department and the technology to retrieve that information must be available at the application site.
No information on file with the department, except the applicant's residence address, may be changed when applying for a duplicate document under this part.
Designation of individual as agent.
Only an individual may be appointed as the limited licensing agent. If the deputy registrar is a corporation, the individual must be the corporate officer who executed the certificate of appointment under part 7406.0370, subpart 2.
The limited licensing agent must complete initial and ongoing training provided by the commissioner pertinent to the limited licensing agent's duties.
A deputy registrar acting as a limited licensing agent shall pay all taxes and fees due and owed the state for applications made under this part.
Part 7404.0300 notwithstanding, as of January 22, 2008, a deputy registrar appointed under chapter 7406 may apply to the commissioner for appointment also as a licensing agent under this chapter.
The applicant must be an individual and the office must meet the requirements specified in this chapter.
The appointment must be for licensing agent application duties that are not limited.
Any deputy registrar who is not a licensing agent as of January 22, 2008, and who applies to be a licensing agent must complete initial and ongoing licensing agent training.
If the deputy registrar is not currently also an appointed licensing agent with image- and signature-capture and vision-testing equipment, the agent shall obtain the equipment necessary to accept and process applications from vendors approved by the commissioner.
An agent appointment cannot be transferred to another individual without following the procedure in part 7404.0350 or this part.
The commissioner shall appoint an agent designated by a county board, as specified in part 7404.0350, if the individual meets the criteria of subparts 3 to 6.
If the county board does not designate an individual for appointment, or fails to provide timely notice to the commissioner under part 7404.0350, the commissioner shall consider appointment of an agent at the approved office location as specified in this part.
Office administered by municipality.
If the approved office location is an office administered by a municipality, the commissioner may refer the request for appointment to the municipality's governing authority.
If the commissioner refers the designation of a municipal employee or official to the municipality, the municipality's governing authority, within 30 days of the date of the referral, shall either:
designate an employee or equivalent officer of the municipality to be appointed by the commissioner; or
decline to designate an individual for appointment.
The municipality's governing authority shall notify the commissioner, in writing, of the option chosen under item A within 30 days of referral to the municipality.
If the municipality's governing authority declines to designate an individual for appointment by the commissioner as an agent or fails to notify the commissioner of the municipality's chosen option under this subpart within 30 days of referral to the municipality, the commissioner shall consider the appointment of the agent under this part.
When designating an individual for appointment, the municipality's governing authority shall follow the procedures in subparts 3 to 6.
The commissioner shall appoint the designee when the municipality's governing authority verifies to the commissioner that the individual meets the qualifications for an agent specified in subparts 3 to 6.
Publication of vacancy notice.
If a county or municipal employee is not appointed, the commissioner shall publish notice of the agent vacancy for the approved office location.
The notice must be published once in a qualified newspaper in the county where the approved office location is located.
The notice must be published within 30 days after the county board or the municipality declines to designate an individual for appointment or 30 days after the deadline for the county board or the municipality to respond to the commissioner.
The notice of agent vacancy must specify the:
approved office location;
commissioner's intent to appoint an agent at that location;
authority under statute and rule to make the appointment;
deadline for submitting the application to the commissioner, which must be 14 days after the date the notice appears.
Appointment application.
The individual seeking appointment shall submit an appointment application to the commissioner in a paper, electronic, or other format as prescribed by the commissioner. The application must specify:
the individual's full name, address, states of residency for the last five years, date of birth, and telephone number;
whether the individual has or had any other license with a federal, state, or municipal government agency; the current status of that license; and an explanation of any cancellation, revocation, suspension, or other disciplinary proceeding in connection with the license;
whether the individual owns or is a partner, officer, or five-percent shareholder in an entity that:
operates a driver training program or driver improvement clinic; or
sells vehicle insurance;
the address of the approved office location;
a floor plan of the proposed office, including the area and dimensions of the space allocated to process applications, public service area, and storage area;
information about the individual's prior education, work experience, and training;
a history of prior appointments as an agent, deputy registrar, or public official and the reasons for the denial, suspension, revocation, or cancellation of any prior appointment;
whether the individual owes any delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest;
whether the individual is currently the subject of bankruptcy proceedings;
a certified copy of the individual's criminal history, including a certified copy of a criminal records check of the national criminal records repository criminal justice data communications network; and
the signature of the individual verifying that the information on the application is true. The signature must be notarized.
Age of agent.
The agent must be 18 years of age or older.
The commissioner may conduct a criminal history check at any time while an individual is serving as an agent.
Change in agent application conditions.
An agent shall report to the commissioner changes or anticipated changes of the information in subpart 3.
The changes must be reported ten calendar days before the date the change is to occur or within ten calendar days of the date the agent learns the changes will occur, whichever occurs first.
A change is cause for discontinuance of an appointment if the change violates this chapter or Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061.
Reasons to deny agent appointment.
An agent appointment must be denied for any of the reasons listed in this subpart.
The appointment application or an item filed with the appointment application does not meet the requirements of subpart 3.
The individual applying is a partner, officer, or five-percent or greater shareholder in an entity that:
operates a driver training program, or driver improvement clinic; or
sells vehicle insurance.
The individual has been convicted of a crime in Minnesota or in another jurisdiction that, if committed in Minnesota, would be a violation of a Minnesota statute of the following type:
affects a public officer or employee;
is theft or a related crime;
is forgery or a related crime; or
is reasonably related to the position of an agent.
The office does not meet the requirements under part 7404.0400 and a variance has not been granted by the commissioner.
The commissioner of revenue notifies the commissioner, or the commissioner has sufficient cause to believe, that the individual owes delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest.
The individual is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings.
The individual's application for appointment is incomplete or contains a statement that is false, misleading, fraudulent, or otherwise constitutes misrepresentation.
An appointment must be based on information contained in the appointment application, an interview, an inspection of the office or review of a floor plan for compliance with part 7404.0400, and other relevant information or documentation.
The individual must possess, and ensure that all employees of the agent who have contact with the public possess, communication and customer service skills.
The individual must possess or demonstrate knowledge or experience in the laws and rules pertinent to the acceptance of applications, office management, accounting, and record keeping.
The individual must indicate a willingness to successfully complete initial and annual training provided by the commissioner as specified in part 7404.0500, subpart 1a.
The commissioner shall execute and sign a certificate of appointment that specifies the individual appointed as an agent, the approved office location, and the responsibility of the agent to accept applications.
The certificate of appointment must be signed by the individual appointed.
When an appointment is made by the commissioner of an individual designated by the county board or a municipal authority, the certificate must also be signed by the authorized representative of the county board or municipal authority.
The commissioner shall cancel a certificate of appointment if the appointed agent fails to provide an operational office that meets the requirements of this chapter within 12 months of the date of the initial appointment by the commissioner.
If an agent appointed under this chapter is not an officer or employee of a county or municipality, the agent shall give a surety bond to the state to cover the application receipts accepted on behalf of the commissioner, and equipment and inventory provided and maintained by the commissioner.
The bond must be conditioned upon the faithful discharge of duties as an agent.
If an agent is also a deputy registrar or a registrar for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the bond must be in addition to the bond required to be held to cover the deputy registrar vehicle title and registration or Department of Natural Resources transactions.
The bond must be a continuous bond in the amount of:
$1,000 or the value of all state-issued inventory, whichever amount is greater; plus
$3,000 for every $50,000 of annual application receipts or portion thereof.
The amount of application receipts for an initial bond must be based on the highest projected amount of annual application receipts in the five years after an agent is appointed as the number of applications for a new office is estimated under part 7404.0300.
For an initial appointment, the bond shall be adjusted after the first 24 months of office operation.
The continuous bond must be adjusted every five years, starting with the date of initial issuance for an existing office, or starting with the date after the 24-month adjustment for a new office, to reflect the total annual application receipt amount and inventory value of the previous calendar year.
Change in agent designated by county or municipality.
An agent designated by a county board shall notify the county board and commissioner, in writing, no less than 30 days before the agent resigns, retires, or discontinues service. If the office is vacated upon the death or discontinuance of the agent, an official authorized by the county board or municipality must notify the commissioner within ten days of the vacancy.
Transfer of appointment.
An agent appointment may not be transferred to another individual or office without the approval of the commissioner.
An approved office location must comply with this part.
An existing agent must have an office that complies with this part.
An existing agent may apply to the commissioner for a variance from compliance with subpart 5, if compliance constitutes a substantial hardship.
The agent may apply for a variance to the commissioner. The commissioner shall consider the following factors when reviewing the variance request:
why the office does not meet the requirements;
the options available to the agent to bring the office into compliance;
the financial cost for meeting the options, estimated with reasonable efforts; and
Area for applications.
must have an office that contains a separate and distinct area used exclusively for taking, processing, and storing applications;
may not use the application area for living space or for transacting any other business, except that a deputy registrar authorized by the commissioner may process vehicle title and registration transactions, Department of Natural Resources transactions, and additional county transactions as specified under Minnesota Statutes, section 373.33;
must install a counter or divider within the application area to separate the public from the secure application review and processing areas of the office; and
must position the application equipment so the applicant can review and verify in a private manner that the application information is correct.
Inventory and equipment must be maintained in a secure manner during and after business hours.
The agent shall procure and maintain a secure dedicated telephone line as specified by the commissioner for the transmission of license application data at each office site.
Any agent appointed after January 5, 1999, shall procure or lease and maintain at least one dedicated vision-testing machine per office from a vendor specified by the commissioner. The agent is responsible for the maintenance of the vision-testing equipment in the agent's office.
Any agent establishing an office that did not exist as of January 1, 2000, shall procure or lease, and maintain, photo identification equipment from a vendor specified by the commissioner. This equipment includes a dedicated computer and all software and security features provided by the vendor, and signature-capture equipment.
For an agent appointed as of January 1, 2000, who has photo identification and signature-capture equipment provided by the commissioner, the commissioner shall continue to provide and maintain the equipment.
If equipment or inventory is provided or maintained by the commissioner at an existing office under Minnesota Statutes, section 171.061, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), and the agent dies, retires, or discontinues service, the equipment and inventory must revert to the commissioner unless an agent is appointed to the existing office by the commissioner under parts 7404.0350 and 7404.0360. All offices operated by a county licensing bureau, county, or municipality, with the commissioner's written permission, may retain the equipment and remain in operation during the appointment process.
Where photo identification or vision-testing equipment provided by the commissioner reverts back to the commissioner, the equipment must be distributed according to subitems (1) and (2).
The agent must be able to communicate electronically with the department using methods such as e-mail, instant messaging, or text messaging.
The agent must have an office that is equipped with the technological infrastructure required to process credit card data or debit card data using a card-processing terminal or other hardware provided by the commissioner. "Technological infrastructure" means the physical hardware used to interconnect computers and users. It includes the transmission media and other devices that control transmission paths, and includes the software used to send, receive, and manage the signals that are transmitted. The agent is responsible for the cost for the technological infrastructure.
Size of office area.
The size of the office area includes the application area, the public service area, and the inventory storage area.
The size of the office area must contain a minimum of 300 square feet of which no less than 100 square feet shall be dedicated as the public service area.
The agent office must be separate and distinct from any other business.
The office of a licensing agent that is also a deputy registrar office must contain no less than 500 square feet.
The office must be accessible to the disabled.
An indoor or outdoor sign must be prominently displayed to identify the office as a location where applications are taken.
An agent may not be employed by, own, or have a financial interest as a partner, officer, or five percent shareholder in, an entity that sells vehicle insurance or operates a driver training program or driver improvement clinic.
An agent shall manage the agent's office according to this part.
The manager must be an individual who is at least 18 years of age, actively participates in the acceptance of applications, and is in the office on a full-time basis.
The manager shall act as a liaison between the commissioner and the agent's office to discuss and address problems or questions that may arise on a daily basis.
The agent shall ensure that only authorized employees of the agent have access to data on the application, supporting documents, and state records that are not public data. The agent shall ensure that a record of the authorized employees is kept in the office records on site.
Each agent or the agent's designated representative shall complete annual training when provided by the commissioner and any additional training deemed necessary by the commissioner to accept or process applications.
Each agent shall ensure that any staff in the agent's office who accept or process applications are subsequently trained by the agent or the agent's designated representative.
A record of all training to accept and process applications completed by the agent and agent's staff must be maintained for three years by the agent in the agent's office.
The licensing agent must have a customer service policy approved by the commissioner that is applicable to each office operated by the agent.
The policy must ensure that all staff who accept or process applications are properly trained and competent to perform their duties.
The agent shall ensure that the public is treated with courtesy, consideration, and respect and that the customer's property is treated with respect.
The agent shall ensure that the public is provided with complete, current, and accurate information.
The agent shall ensure that the applicant's personal and private information is protected.
If an investigation by the commissioner in response to a complaint indicates customer service training is necessary, the agent or the agent's designated representative shall complete customer service training provided by or approved by the commissioner. The agent shall ensure that any staff who accept or process applications are subsequently trained by the agent or the agent's representative. A record of the subsequent customer service training must be maintained on site and indicate the date of training and all individuals who completed the training.
Each office operated by the agent must have a system to receive, investigate, and resolve customer complaints.
The agent must provide for a mechanism for customer comment or feedback about service.
The office policy must indicate whom to contact within the office with a complaint.
When requested, the customer must be provided with the address and telephone number of an individual at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety to contact with a complaint.
The customer must be assured there will be no retaliation for making a complaint.
The customer must be assured there will be a timely written response made by the agent about a written complaint, if a written response is requested by the complainant or the state.
A record of each written complaint and the licensing agent's response to it must be maintained by the agent at the office location for at least three years.
An agent's office must be open to the public at least 40 hours each week.
At the time of appointment, the agent shall provide the commissioner:
with an accurate written schedule of the days and hours the office is open to the public; and
the time of the daily close of office records.
A written request for a change in the days and hours the office is open to the public must be made to the commissioner at least ten calendar days before the change is expected to occur.
The commissioner must approve changes in the days and hours the office is open to the public before the change becomes effective.
The time of the daily close of office records may not be changed without prior written notice to the commissioner at least 15 calendar days before the effective date of the change.
An office must be open for at least 40 hours each week unless the commissioner grants a variance to allow an office to be closed for a specified period of time.
To request a variance for closure of an office for two working days or more, the agent must submit a written request to the commissioner.
For requests of an office closure that is for one day or that is due to an emergency situation or illness, the agent must notify the commissioner by telephone or other means at the earliest opportunity to request a variance from the 40-hour work week.
An agent shall charge and receive the full application fees specified by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 171.
Rebates are prohibited.
No application or filing fees may be charged for a document returned for a refund or correction due to an error made by the department or an agent.
Telephone use charges.
An agent may not charge a customer for long-distance telephone calls, unless:
A separate cash register or cash receptacle must be maintained for application funds.
An agent shall maintain a verifiable and identical amount of start-up funds in the cash register or cash receptacle on a daily basis.
An agent shall accept credit cards and debit cards as a method of payment for application and reinstatement fee transactions, unless a variance is granted under subpart 8b. The commissioner shall specify the types of credit cards and debit cards that the agent can accept for payment.
Ordinarily, an agent shall operate at least one card-processing terminal in the office at which driver's license transactions are conducted, but an agent may operate a point-of-sale information system, or other similar information system used to process and manage business transactions, if:
the convenience fee rate that is charged to credit or debit card transactions is the same rate that all agents charge for such transactions;
the information system meets the requirements of the state's credit card vendor; and
there is no cost to the commissioner for the operation and maintenance of the agent's information system.
provide card-processing terminals at no cost to the agent; and
replace defective card-processing terminals at no cost to the agent.
The agent shall provide the technological infrastructure as specified in part 7404.0400, subpart 4, item I.
The commissioner shall provide the agent with signage in an electronic format that states:
the types of credit cards that the agent must accept for payment of application and reinstatement fees; and
a convenience fee is added to a transaction paid by a credit card or debit card.
The agent shall inform a person who chooses to pay by credit card or debit card of the amount of the convenience fee and shall obtain the person's consent to the convenience fee before completing the transaction.
An agent is responsible for chargebacks as specified in part 7404.0450, subpart 1a, item C.
An agent may apply to the commissioner for a variance from the provision in subpart 8a requiring acceptance of credit cards and debit cards. A variance to subpart 8a does not include a variance to the technology requirements in part 7404.0400, subpart 4, item I. Application for a variance may be made by submitting a written request to the commissioner according to this subpart. The commissioner shall consider the following factors when reviewing the request for a variance:
the agent's written statement of reasons why credit card and debit card acceptance would impose serious economic hardship;
bank statements from the agent's office for the preceding three months;
the average number and average amount of driver's license transactions conducted in the agent's office during the preceding year; and
additional information requested by the commissioner or supplied by the agent.
The commissioner shall review the agent's request for a variance under subpart 8b and grant it or deny it within 30 calendar days of its receipt, or within 30 calendar days from the date of the commissioner's request for additional information, whichever is later. The commissioner shall give the agent written justification for a decision to deny the variance. Failure of the agent to submit the additional information requested under subpart 8b within 15 calendar days of the request is cause for the commissioner to deny a request for a variance. This procedure is not a contested case hearing as defined in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14.
Inventory assigned to the agent by the commissioner must remain in the office, except in the following authorized circumstances:
State-issued property; accountability.
State-issued property provided to an office must be accounted for by submitting the property to the commissioner. If state-issued property is unaccounted for, the agent is responsible for the replacement cost of the state property.
An agent shall exhibit, as directed by the commissioner, any displays, notices, or other information relating to applications that are provided by the commissioner.
The failure of an agent or employee of an agent to comply with applicable laws or rules governing the appointment of an agent and the operation of an office is cause for discontinuance of the agent appointment using the grounds specified for a deputy registrar under parts 7406.0900 to 7406.1000 and following the procedures specified in parts 7406.1100 to 7406.2600. The commissioner may issue a correction order according to the procedures in part 7406.1000. The grounds for discontinuance of an agent appointment or issuance of a correction order as specified in part 7406.1000 also include:
a violation or failure to comply with a provision of this chapter; Minnesota Statutes, chapter 171; or a correction order issued by the commissioner;
misappropriation, conversion, or illegal withholding of application fees required to be deposited in accordance with this chapter and Minnesota Statutes, chapter 171;
grounds for denial of an appointment under part 7404.0360, subpart 7;
failure to successfully complete training required by the commissioner;
loss of an appointment as a deputy registrar under chapter 7406 or Minnesota Statutes, section 168.33;
conviction for a felony; and
allowing unauthorized persons access to records, files, or data.
The agent and any agency or employee of the agent shall hold the commissioner harmless from any and all claims or causes of action against the agent or any employee or agency of the agent, including all attorney fees incurred, arising from performance or actions not in accordance with this chapter, Minnesota Statutes, or written instruction from the commissioner.