No restoration fee is required of any person whose application for renewal of a license is accompanied by his signed statement that prior to the date of his application and payment of the minimum license fee he has not sold any nursery stock during any part of the license period for which he applies for renewal of the license. The director also may accept, at his discretion, the licensee’s affidavit that the minimum license fee was not paid within the time limits specified in Section 6724 for reasons beyond the licensee’s control.