R460-5-3. Other Participants

(1) UHC may terminate the eligibility of a participant to participate in UHC's programs if UHC finds that a participant:

(a) has made or procured to be made any false statement for the purpose of influencing in any way an action of UHC or any other participant;

(b) has falsely advertised, made misleading or false offers, or otherwise attempted to induce persons to participate in UHC programs when program requirements cannot be met or have not been represented accurately;

(c) has represented, either orally or in writing or advertising, that UHC mortgage loans are available at a specified interest rate when such participant either knew or reasonably should have known that UHC mortgage loans are not available at such rate;

(d) has provided funds, whether by gift or by loan, to unqualified borrowers to enable such borrowers to obtain a mortgage loan or other benefits of a UHC program;

(e) has violated a law, regulation or procedure relating to an application for a mortgage loan or other benefits of a UHC program or relating to the performance of obligations incurred pursuant to a grant of financial assistance or pursuant to a conditional or final commitment to insure or guarantee;

(f) has been debarred or suspended or issued a limited denial of participation from a federal housing program;

(g) has been convicted of or held liable in a civil judgment for any of the following:

(i) commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public or private agreement or transaction;

(ii) forgery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, making false claims, or obstruction of justice;

(iii) commission of any other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty that seriously and directly affects the present responsibility of a person;

(h) has been determined to be "not in good standing" as detailed in the current-year Qualified Allocation Plan utilized by UHC and its development partners for the housing credit and multifamily bond programs.

(2) For purposes of determining the scope of a participant's ineligibility to participate in UHC programs, conduct may be imputed as follows:

(a) The fraudulent, criminal or other seriously improper conduct of any officer, director, shareholder, employee, partner, joint venturer or other individual associated with a participant may be imputed to the participant when the conduct occurred in connection with the individual's performance of duties for or on behalf of the participant, or with the participant's knowledge, approval, or acquiescence. The participant's acceptance of the benefits derived from the conduct shall be evidence of such knowledge, approval, or acquiescence.

(b) The fraudulent, criminal, or other seriously improper conduct of a participant may be imputed to any officer, director, shareholder, employee, partner, joint venturer or other individual associated with the participant who participated in, knew of, or had reason to know of the participant's conduct.

(3) The eligibility of an affiliate or organizational element of a participant may be terminated solely on the basis of its affiliation, and regardless of its knowledge of or participation in the acts providing cause for the action. The burden of proving that a particular affiliate or organizational element is currently responsible and not controlled by the primary sanctioned party, or by an entity that itself is controlled by the primary sanctioned party, is on the affiliate or organizational element.

(4) Ineligibility shall be for a period commensurate with the seriousness of the cause. Ineligibility generally should not exceed three years. Where circumstances warrant, a longer period of ineligibility may be imposed. If a suspension precedes a determination of ineligibility, the length of the suspension period shall be considered in determining the length of the ineligibility period.

(5) The president or other designated officer of UHC may suspend a participant for any of the causes set forth in R460-5-1 or R460-5-3(1) which shall immediately exclude a participant from participating in transactions involving UHC programs for a temporary period not to exceed 12 months.

(a) Suspension is a serious action to be imposed only when there exists adequate evidence of one or more of the causes set out in R460-5-1 or R460-5-3(1) and immediate action is necessary to protect the public interest.

(b) In assessing the adequacy of the evidence, the president of UHC shall consider how much information is available, the credibility of the evidence given the circumstances, whether or not important allegations are corroborated, and what inferences can reasonably be drawn as a result of all available evidence.

(c) All suspensions shall be for a temporary period pending the completion of an investigation and such legal or ineligibility proceedings as may ensue but in any event shall be for no longer than 12 months.

(d) Suspension shall be made effective by advising the participant, and any specifically named affiliates, electronically via email or facsimile and by certified mail, return receipt requested, of each of the following:

(i) suspension is being imposed;

(ii) the cause relied upon under R460-5-1 or R460-5-3(1) for imposing suspension;

(iii) the suspension is for a temporary period pending the completion of an investigation and such legal or ineligibility proceedings as may ensue; and

(iv) the right to request within 30 days, in writing, a hearing, either oral or on the basis of any written submissions by the respondent.

(e) Within 30 days of receipt of a notice of suspension, a suspended participant, including any affiliate, desiring a hearing shall file a written request for a hearing with UHC. If a hearing is requested, it shall be held in accordance with R460-6-3.3.

(6) UHC shall compile andmaintain a list of all persons or entities whose eligibility to participate in UHC's programs has been terminated or suspended. The list shall include the following items:

(a) the names and addresses of all ineligible and suspended persons or entities;

(b) the type of action;

(c) the cause for the action;

(d) the scope of the action;

(e) any termination date for each listing;

(f) the name and telephone number of UHC point of contact for the action.

(7) Before resorting to adjudicative proceedings under R460-6, UHC may issue a cease and desist order, advising a participant of present actions by the participant that violate this rule, and ordering the participant to cease and desist such actions, subject to further sanctions.

(8) UHC may also refer a case involving a participant to the Utah Department of Commerce, or any other state or federal agency, for further action.

(9) UHC may settle a case at any time.

(10) UHC and a participant may agree to a voluntary exclusion of a participant from a specific program or project.