Amendment ASA1-AB954

AB954-ASA1,25,23 (2) If the administrator receives a complaint or other information concerning noncompliance with chs. 421 to 427 and 429 by a supervised financial organization, the administrator shall inform the official or agency having supervisory authority over the organization concerned. The administrator may request information about supervised financial organizations from the officials or agencies supervising them.

AB954-ASA1,26,3 (3) The administrator and any official or agency of this state having supervisory authority over a supervised financial organization shall consult and assist one another in maintaining compliance with chs. 421 to 427 and 429. They may jointly pursue investigations, prosecute suits and take other official action, as they deem appropriate, if either of them otherwise is empowered to take the action.

AB954-ASA1, s. 85 Section 85. 426.107 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,26,8 426.107 Application of chapter 227. Except as otherwise provided, ch. 227 applies to and governs all administrative action taken by the administrator pursuant to chs. 421 to 427 and 429. Notwithstanding s. 227.52, the decisions of the administrator are subject to judicial review as provided in ch. 227.

AB954-ASA1, s. 86 Section 86. 426.109 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,26,16 426.109 Temporary relief; injunctions. (1) The administrator or any customer may bring a civil action to restrain by temporary or permanent injunction a person from violating chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, or to so restrain a merchant or a person acting on behalf of a merchant from engaging in false, misleading, deceptive, or unconscionable conduct in consumer credit transactions. It shall not be a defense to an action brought under this section that there exists an adequate remedy at law.

AB954-ASA1,27,7 (2) The administrator or customer may seek a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to the adverse party or his or her attorney. If the court finds that there is reasonable cause to believe that the respondent is engaged in the conduct sought to be restrained and that such conduct violates chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or rules promulgated under chs. 421 to 427 and 429, it may grant a temporary restraining order or any temporary relief it deems appropriate. A temporary restraining order granted without notice shall expire by its terms within a stated time after entry, not to exceed 30 days, as the court fixes, unless within this time it is extended by the court, or unless the party against whom the order is directed consents that it may be extended for a longer period. When a temporary restraining order is granted without notice, the motion for a preliminary injunction shall be set down for a hearing at the earliest possible time. Upon notice to the party who obtained the temporary restraining order without notice, the adverse party may appear and move its dissolution or modification, and in this event the court shall proceed to hear and determine such motion as expeditiously as the ends of justice require.

AB954-ASA1, s. 87 Section 87. 426.110 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,27,18 426.110 (1) Either the administrator, or any customer affected by a violation of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or of the rules promulgated pursuant thereto or by a violation of the federal consumer credit protection act, or by conduct of a kind described in sub. (2), may bring a civil action on behalf of himself or herself and all persons similarly situated, for actual damages by reason of such conduct or violation, together with penalties as provided in sub. (14), reasonable attorney fees and other relief to which such persons are entitled under chs. 421 to 427 and 429. The customer filing the action must give prompt notice thereof to the administrator, who shall be permitted, upon application within 30 days, to join as a party plaintiff. For purposes of apportionment of cost, the administrator need not be a party to the action.

AB954-ASA1, s. 88 Section 88. 426.110 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,28,2 426.110 (3) Notwithstanding this chapter, no class action may be maintained for conduct proscribed in sub. (2) or for a violation of s. 423.301, 424.501, 425.107, 426.108 or 427.104 (1) (h) unless the conduct has been found to constitute a violation of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 at least 30 days prior to the occurrence of the conduct involved in the class action by an appellate court of this state or by a rule promulgated by the administrator as provided in ss. 426.104 (1) (e) and 426.108 specifying with particularity the act or practice in question.

AB954-ASA1, s. 89 Section 89. 426.110 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,28,10 426.110 (14) A merchant shall not be liable in a class action for specific penalties (ss. under s. 425.302 (1) (a), 425.303 (1), 425.304 (1), 425.305 (1)) or 429.301 (1) for which it would be liable in individual actions by reason of violations of chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or of conduct prescribed in sub. (2) unless it is shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the violation was a wilful and knowing violation of chs. 421 to 427 and 429. No recovery in an action under this subsection may exceed $100,000.

AB954-ASA1, s. 90 Section 90. 426.111 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,28,14 426.111 Debtors' remedies not affected. The grant of powers to the administrator in this chapter does not affect remedies available to customers under chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or under other principles of law or equity.

AB954-ASA1, s. 91 Section 91. 426.201 (2) (g) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,28,18 426.201 (2) (g) Such other similar information as the administrator may require to effectuate the purposes and policies of chs. 421 to 427 and 429.

AB954-ASA1, s. 92 Section 92. 426.202 (1m) (c) of the statutes, as created by 1995 Wisconsin Act 27, is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,29,3 426.202 (1m) (c) Amount of registration fee. The amount of the registration fee shall be determined in accordance with rates set by the administrator, subject to the maximum and minimum fees under pars. (d) and (e). In setting these rates, the administrator shall consider the costs of administering chs. 421 to 427 and 429, including the costs of enforcement, education and seeking voluntary compliance with chs. 421 to 427 and 429. Subject to pars. (d) and (e), the registration fee for a person shall be based on the person's average monthly outstanding balance during the reporting period.

AB954-ASA1, s. 93 Section 93. 426.301 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB954-ASA1,29,8 426.301 Violations and enforcement. (1) The administrator may recover in a civil action from a person who violates chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or any rule made pursuant to any authority granted in chs. 421 to 427 and 429, a civil penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 for each violation.

AB954-ASA1,29,13 (2) In addition to the amount to which the administrator shall be entitled under sub. (1), the administrator may recover in a civil action from a person who knowingly or wilfully violates chs. 421 to 427 and 429 or any rule made pursuant to any authority granted in chs. 421 to 427 and 429, a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 for each violation.

AB954-ASA1, s. 94 Section 94. Chapter 429 of the statutes is created to read:

AB954-ASA1,29,17 Chapter 429 motor vehicle consumer leases

AB954-ASA1,29,19 Subchapter i general provisions

AB954-ASA1,29,21 429.101 Title. This chapter may be cited as the Wisconsin motor vehicle consumer lease act.

AB954-ASA1,29,23 429.102 Applicable law. (1) To the extent that s. 218.01 and chs. 411 and 421 to 427 are inconsistent with this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall apply.

AB954-ASA1,30,2 (2) Unless superseded by the particular provisions of this chapter, parties to a motor vehicle consumer lease have all of the obligations, duties, rights and remedies provided in s. 218.01 and chs. 411 and 421 to 427 that apply to the transaction.

AB954-ASA1,30,6 429.103 Construction against implied repeal. This chapter being a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter, no part of this chapter shall be construed to be impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if such construction can reasonably be avoided.

AB954-ASA1,30,7 429.104 Definitions. In this chapter:

AB954-ASA1,30,10 (1) "Adjusted capitalized cost" means the amount computed by subtracting from capitalized cost any capitalized cost reduction, for the purpose of determining the base lease payment.

AB954-ASA1,30,14 (2) "Average periodic depreciation" means the adjusted capitalized cost, after first subtracting the residual value, divided by the number of payment periods under the consumer lease or, for a single-payment lease, the number of months in the term of the lease.

AB954-ASA1,30,18 (3) "Average periodic lease charge" means the lease charge for the scheduled term of the consumer lease divided by the number of payment periods under the consumer lease or, for a single-payment lease, the number of months in the term of the lease.

AB954-ASA1,30,19 (3m) "Balance subject to a lease charge" means:

AB954-ASA1,30,23 (a) In the case of a lease other than a single-payment lease, the amount calculated by subtracting from the adjusted capitalized cost the sum of the first base lease payment and all depreciation amounts accrued during any preceding payment periods.

AB954-ASA1,31,3 (b) In the case of a single-payment lease, the amount calculated by subtracting the total lease charge from the sum of the residual value and all lease charges accrued during any preceding computational periods.

AB954-ASA1,31,4 (4) "Base lease payment" means an amount determined as follows:

AB954-ASA1,31,7 (a) With respect to a single-payment lease, the product of the number of months in the scheduled term of the lease multiplied by the sum of the average periodic lease charge and the average periodic depreciation.

AB954-ASA1,31,9 (b) With respect to a lease other than a single-payment lease, the sum of the average periodic lease charge and the average periodic depreciation.

AB954-ASA1,31,24 (5) "Capitalized cost" means the sum of all amounts capitalized in the consumer lease that, after subtracting the capitalized cost reduction, amortizes to the residual value by the depreciation portion of the periodic lease payments over the scheduled term of the lease or, for a single-payment lease, the single payment. These amounts may include taxes; fees for registration, license, acquisition, administration and assignment; other fees; charges for insurance, service contracts and extended warranties; and charges for a waiver of the contractual obligation to pay the gap amount, for accessories and their installation, for other services and benefits incidental to the consumer lease, and for delivering, servicing, repairing or improving the vehicle. With respect to a vehicle or other property traded in connection with a consumer lease, the term may include the outstanding unpaid balance of the amount financed under a consumer loan, as defined in s. 421.301 (12), or a retail instalment contract, as defined in s. 218.01 (1) (t), or the unpaid balance of any early termination costs under a lease or other obligation of the lessee. The term does not include any lease charge.

AB954-ASA1,32,5 (6) "Capitalized cost reduction" means the sum, at the time of inception of the consumer lease, of any payments made by cash, check, rebates or the like that constitute a downpayment made by the lessee and the net amount credited by the lessor for any trade-in. The term does not include any base lease payments due at the inception of the consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,32,8 (7) "Conspicuous" means that the term or clause is so written as to be distinguished from other terms or clauses by type size or in some other manner. The term includes any writing in at least 10-point boldface type.

AB954-ASA1,32,15 (9) "Consumer lease" or "lease" means a lease entered into in this state that transfers the right of possession and use by a natural person of a motor vehicle primarily for a personal, family, household or agricultural purpose, for a period of time exceeding 4 months, if the total lease obligation, excluding any option to purchase or otherwise become owner of the motor vehicle at the expiration of the consumer lease, does not exceed $25,000. The term does not include a credit sale, as defined under 12 CFR 226.2 (a) (16).

AB954-ASA1,32,17 (10) "Early termination" means termination of a consumer lease before the termination date set forth in the consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,32,19 (11) "Federal consumer leasing act" means the federal consumer leasing act, as amended, 15 USC 1667-1667e, and regulations issued under that act.

AB954-ASA1,33,4 (12) "Gap amount" means the difference between the amount to be paid by the lessee under the consumer lease in the event of total loss or destruction of the leased vehicle prior to expiration of the lease term by theft, physical damage, or other occurrence specified in the lease, and the actual cash value or portion thereof received by the lessor from insurance proceeds or from any other person on account of the total loss or destruction of the motor vehicle. The term does not include any deductible amount under any applicable insurance policy maintained by the lessee, any past-due payments owed by the lessee at the time of receipt by the lessor of the actual cash value or portion thereof from insurance proceeds or from any other person, or any other amount due under the lease resulting from default by the lessee.

AB954-ASA1,33,5 (13) "Gap protection" means any of the following:

AB954-ASA1,33,7 (a) A provision in a consumer lease under which the lessor agrees, for a charge, to waive the gap amount.

AB954-ASA1,33,9 (b) Insurance coverage that provides that another person is liable for the gap amount.

AB954-ASA1,33,12 (14) "Group credit insurance" means group credit life insurance, group credit accident insurance, group credit accident and health insurance, group disability insurance or group credit unemployment insurance.

AB954-ASA1,33,16 (15) "Holder" means, with respect to a consumer lease, the lessor and, upon assignment of the lease, the assignee for the period of assignment. The term does not include a pledgee of a consumer lease or the owner or beneficiary of an interest in a trust that owns consumer leases.

AB954-ASA1,33,19 (16) "Lease charge" means the sum of all charges payable by the lessee for the privilege of making the scheduled lease payments under a consumer lease. The term does not include capitalized cost.

AB954-ASA1,33,21 (17) "Lessee" means a natural person who leases a motor vehicle from a lessor under a consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,33,23 (18) "Lessor" means a person regularly engaged in the business of leasing or selling vehicles who leases a motor vehicle to a lessee under a consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,33,24 (19) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning given in s. 218.01 (1) (m).

AB954-ASA1,34,2 (20) "Periodic" means weekly, monthly, quarterly or any other period of time specified in a consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,34,5 (21) "Prospective lessee" means a natural person who enters into a prelease agreement under s. 218.01 (6x) with a prospective lessor, or who otherwise intends to become a lessee.

AB954-ASA1,34,8 (21m) "Prospective lessor" means a person regularly engaged in the business of leasing or selling vehicles who enters into a prelease agreement under s. 218.01 (6x) with a prospective lessee, or who otherwise intends to become a lessor.

AB954-ASA1,34,11 (22) "Realized value" means, with respect to any motor vehicle leased under a consumer lease that is terminated before the expiration date, the value determined under s. 429.206.

AB954-ASA1,34,18 (23) "Renegotiation" means the satisfaction and replacement of an existing consumer lease by a new consumer lease between the same parties, including an assignee of the lessor. The term does not include a deferral or extension of any periodic lease payments or portions thereof not exceeding 6 months in the aggregate, a satisfaction and replacement of a consumer lease involving a court proceeding or the settlement of a dispute, or any other action that does not constitute a renegotiation under the federal consumer leasing act.

AB954-ASA1,34,21 (24) "Residual value" means the estimated value of the leased vehicle at the expiration of the lease term that is used in the consumer lease to determine the depreciation portion of the base lease payment.

AB954-ASA1,34,23 (25) "Single-payment lease" means a consumer lease that requires only one payment, to be paid at the time of consummation of the lease.

AB954-ASA1,34,24 (26) "Total lease obligation" means the sum of all of the following:

AB954-ASA1,34,25 (a) All scheduled periodic payments under the lease.

AB954-ASA1,35,1 (b) Capitalized cost reduction.

AB954-ASA1,35,4 Subchapter II Disclosures; limitations on agreements and practices

AB954-ASA1,35,8 429.201 Prelease availability of consumer lease form. A lessor shall, upon request of a prospective lessee, make readily available a blank sample of its current consumer lease form for examination by the prospective lessee before execution of the consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,35,18 429.202 Advance payment or trade-in; refund or return. (1) If a prospective lessee has made an advance payment or surrendered possession of a vehicle to a prospective lessor as a trade-in pending the execution of a consumer lease, the prospective lessee shall have the right, if the application for the consumer lease is not approved, to receive a prompt refund of the advance payment and, if applicable, to have the trade-in vehicle promptly returned. If a prospective lessor takes possession of a trade-in vehicle under this subsection, the prospective lessor may not sell, offer for sale, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of the vehicle in any manner until execution of the consumer lease or, except for return of the vehicle to the prospective lessee, disapproval of the consumer lease application.

AB954-ASA1,35,23 (2) This section does not apply to the sale of a vehicle by a prospective lessee to a prospective lessor under a separate contract of sale if the contract of sale is executed prior to execution of the consumer lease between the parties, gives the date of sale and is signed by both parties. Any contract of sale under this subsection shall provide for all of the following:

AB954-ASA1,36,2 (a) That the contract price establishes the value of the vehicle to be credited against the amount due from the lessee at the consummation of the lease or, if the parties fail to execute a consumer lease, the amount due the prospective lessee for the vehicle.

AB954-ASA1,36,6 (b) That the prospective lessee agrees to leave the contract price on deposit with the prospective lessor pending the execution of a consumer lease between the parties with respect to a motor vehicle to be ordered from a manufacturer, including a motor vehicle not yet in production as of the date of sale.

AB954-ASA1,36,10 (c) That the prospective lessee shall be entitled to payment of the contract price from the prospective lessor no later than 75 days after the date of sale, unless the parties have executed a consumer lease or the prospective lessee has already received such payment.

AB954-ASA1,36,12 429.203 Requirements of a consumer lease. (1) A consumer lease shall be in writing and signed by the lessor and the lessee.

AB954-ASA1,36,16 (2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the printed portion of a consumer lease, other than instructions for its completion, shall be in at least 8-point type. The consumer lease shall contain all of the following printed in a conspicuous manner:

AB954-ASA1,36,18 (a) At the top of the consumer lease, the words "MOTOR VEHICLE LEASE AGREEMENT" in at least 10-point type.

AB954-ASA1,36,23 (b) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., if no liability insurance for bodily injury or property damage is provided for under the consumer lease, a notice in substantially the following language in bold-faced capital letters of not less than 10-point type: "NO LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR BODILY INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IS INCLUDED IN THIS LEASE."

AB954-ASA1,37,3 2. The notice required under subd. 1. may be provided on a separate document delivered to the prospective lessee not later than the time of execution of the consumer lease.

AB954-ASA1,37,7 (2m) Every writing evidencing the customer's obligation to pay under a motor vehicle consumer lease shall contain immediately above or adjacent to the place for the signature of the customer, a conspicuous, printed or typewritten notice in substantially the following language:

AB954-ASA1,37,8 NOTICE TO LESSEE

AB954-ASA1,37,12 (a) THIS IS A MOTOR VEHICLE LEASE AGREEMENT. YOU HAVE NO OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN THE MOTOR VEHICLE UNLESS THIS LEASE CONTAINS A PURCHASE OPTION AND YOU EXERCISE YOUR OPTION TO PURCHASE THE MOTOR VEHICLE.

AB954-ASA1,37,14 (b) DO NOT SIGN THIS LEASE BEFORE YOU READ IT, INCLUDING ANY WRITING ON THE REVERSE SIDE.

AB954-ASA1,37,15 (c) DO NOT SIGN THIS IF IT CONTAINS ANY BLANK SPACES.

AB954-ASA1,37,17 (d) EARLY TERMINATION OF THIS LEASE MAY REQUIRE YOU TO PAY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT.

AB954-ASA1,37,19 (e) YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A COMPLETED COPY OF THIS LEASE WHEN YOU SIGN IT.

AB954-ASA1,37,22 (3) The consumer lease shall contain all disclosures required by the federal consumer leasing act and any of the following disclosures that are not disclosed in the same or substantially similar disclosures under the federal consumer leasing act:

AB954-ASA1,38,2 (a) The capitalized cost, using the term "capitalized cost", and an explanation of the term in substantially the following language: "The capitalized cost is the agreed-upon amount determined at the inception of the consumer lease for all items and services included in the lease other than the charges you pay for the privilege of making the scheduled lease payments."

AB954-ASA1,38,6 (b) Any capitalized cost reduction, using the term "capitalized cost reduction", and an explanation of the term in substantially the following language: "The capitalized cost reduction is any cash, check, rebate or the like and, if applicable, net trade-in allowance that reduces the capitalized cost."

AB954-ASA1,38,12 (c) The adjusted capitalized cost, using the term "adjusted capitalized cost", and an explanation of the term, as applicable, in substantially the following language: "The adjusted capitalized cost is the agreed-upon amount that serves as the basis for determining the base lease payment. If you are not in default on the consumer lease, this amount (plus any applicable early termination charges) determines your maximum early termination obligation."

AB954-ASA1,38,17 (d) The residual value of the leased vehicle, using the term "residual value", and an explanation of the term in substantially the following language: "The residual value is the estimated value of the leased vehicle at the end of the lease term that is used in determining the depreciation portion of the base lease payment. Your purchase option price, if any, may be a different amount."