AB150: Bill Text

AB150,1920,5 218.02 (9) (c) The commissioner department shall investigate, ascertain and determine whether this chapter or the lawful orders issued hereunder are being violated and for such purposes the commissioner department shall have all of the powers conferred by ss. 217.17 and 217.18. The commissioner department shall report all violations to the district attorney of the proper county for prosecution.

AB150, s. 5911 Section 5911. 218.04 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1920,8 218.04 (1) (c) "Commissioner" "Department" means the commissioner of banking department of financial institutions.

AB150, s. 5912 Section 5912. 218.04 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1920,13 218.04 (3) (a) Application for licenses under the provisions of this section shall be made to the commissioner department in writing, under oath, on a form to be prescribed by the commissioner department. All licenses shall expire on June thirtieth next following their date of issue.

AB150, s. 5913 Section 5913. 218.04 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1920,20 218.04 (3) (b) At the time of making application, every applicant for a collection agency license shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $100 $1,000 to the commissioner for investigating the application, unless the applicant is already licensed under this section, and the sum of $100 $200 as an annual license fee. If the cost of investigation exceeds $100 $1,000, the applicant shall, upon demand of the commissioner, pay the excess cost. No investigation fee is required on the renewal of a license.

AB150, s. 5914 Section 5914 . 218.04 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB150,1921,4 218.04 (3) (b) At the time of making application, every applicant for a collection agency license shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $1,000 to the commissioner department for investigating the application, unless the applicant is already licensed under this section, and the sum of $200 as an annual license fee. If the cost of investigation exceeds $1,000, the applicant shall, upon demand of the commissioner department, pay the excess cost. No investigation fee is required on the renewal of a license.

AB150, s. 5915 Section 5915. 218.04 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1921,11 218.04 (3) (c) The license fee for a collector or solicitor shall be $2 $15. This license shall be carried as a means of identification whenever the collector is engaged in business. The license shall state the name of the employer and in case of a change of employer the commissioner shall indorse such change on the license without charge shall be surrendered to the commissioner upon termination of employment. A new license is required for a change of employment.

AB150, s. 5916 Section 5916 . 218.04 (3) (c) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB150,1921,18 218.04 (3) (c) The license fee for a collector or solicitor shall be $15. This license shall be carried as a means of identification whenever the collector is engaged in business. The license shall state the name of the employer and shall be surrendered to the commissioner department upon termination of employment. A new license is required for a change of employment.

AB150, s. 5917 Section 5917. 218.04 (3) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1921,23 218.04 (3) (d) The commissioner department may require any licensee to file and maintain in force a bond, in a form to be prescribed by and acceptable to the commissioner department, and in such sum as the commissioner department may deem reasonably necessary to safeguard the interests of the public.

AB150, s. 5918 Section 5918. 218.04 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1922,12 218.04 (4) (a) Upon the filing of such application and the payment of such fee, the commissioner department shall make an investigation, and if the commissioner department finds that the character and general fitness and the financial responsibility of the applicant, and the members thereof if the applicant is a partnership, limited liability company or association, and the officers and directors thereof if the applicant is a corporation, warrant the belief that the business will be operated in compliance with this section the commissioner department shall thereupon issue a license to said applicant. Such license is not assignable and shall permit operation under it only at or from the location specified in the license. A nonresident of this state may, upon complying with all other provisions of this section, secure a collection agency license provided the nonresident maintains an active office in this state.

AB150, s. 5919 Section 5919. 218.04 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1922,19 218.04 (4) (b) No licensee shall conduct a collection agency business within any office, room or place of business in which any other business is solicited or engaged in, or in association or conjunction therewith, except as may be authorized in writing by the commissioner department upon finding that the character of such other business is such that the granting of such authority would not facilitate evasion of this section or the lawful orders issued thereunder.

AB150, s. 5920 Section 5920. 218.04 (5) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1922,22 218.04 (5) (a) (intro.) The commissioner department may suspend or revoke any license issued under this section if the commissioner department finds that:

AB150, s. 5921 Section 5921. 218.04 (5) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1922,25 218.04 (5) (a) 1. The licensee has violated any of the provisions of this section or any lawful order of the commissioner department made thereunder;

AB150, s. 5922 Section 5922. 218.04 (5) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1923,4 218.04 (5) (a) 2. Any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the commissioner department in refusing to issue such license;

AB150, s. 5923 Section 5923. 218.04 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1923,11 218.04 (5) (c) In the event of the death of a licensee, if the licensee is an individual, or of the partners, if the licensee is a partnership, the license of the agency shall terminate as of the date of death of said licensee, except the commissioner department may reinstate a license if the estate of the former licensee signifies to the commissioner department within 45 days its intention to continue the business of the agency.

AB150, s. 5924 Section 5924. 218.04 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1923,20 218.04 (6) (a) Whenever a collection agency shall contemplate a change of its place of business to another location within the same city or village, it shall give written notice thereof to the commissioner, who department, which shall attach to the license the commissioner's department's authorization of such removal, specifying the date thereof and the new location. Such authorization shall be authority for the operation of such business under the same license at the specified new location. All collection agency licenses shall be conspicuously posted in the office of the licensee.

AB150, s. 5925 Section 5925. 218.04 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1923,24 218.04 (6) (b) Every licensee applying for a renewal of a license shall, on or before the first day of June, pay in advance to the commissioner department the annual license fee.

AB150, s. 5926 Section 5926. 218.04 (6) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1924,4 218.04 (6) (c) (intro.) Before discontinuing operating as a collection agency under the provisions of this section, every licensee shall furnish the commissioner department with proof in a form to be determined by the commissioner department and approved by the advisory committee that:

AB150, s. 5927 Section 5927. 218.04 (7) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1924,10 218.04 (7) (title) Powers of commissioner department; advisory committees. (intro.) It shall be the duty of the commissioner department and the commissioner department shall have power, jurisdiction and authority to investigate the conditions and ascertain the facts with reference to the collection of accounts and upon the basis thereof:

AB150, s. 5928 Section 5928. 218.04 (7) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1925,6 218.04 (7) (b) For the purpose of discovering violations of this section the commissioner department may cause an investigation to be made of the business of the licensee transacted under the provisions of this section, and shall cause an investigation to be made of convictions reported to the commissioner department by any district attorney for violation by a licensee of any of the provisions of this section. The place of business, books of accounts, papers, records, safes and vaults of said licensee shall be open to inspection and examination by the commissioner or the commissioner's representative department for the purpose of such investigation and the commissioner department shall have authority to examine under oath all persons whose testimony is required relative to said investigation. The cost of the first investigation or examination during any licensing year shall be paid by the licensee, but the cost of additional investigation or examination during such year shall be paid by the licensee only if such examination discloses violation of sub. (5) (a) 4. The commissioner department shall determine the cost of an investigation or examination. The licensee shall pay the cost of any hearing including witness fees, unless it be found by the commissioner department, board of review or court that licensee has not violated any provision of this section. All said costs shall be paid by the licensee within 30 days after demand therefor by the commissioner department. The state may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs and expenses in any court of competent jurisdiction.

AB150, s. 5929 Section 5929. 218.04 (7) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1925,15 218.04 (7) (c) To appoint advisers from the individuals engaged in the collection business in the state and in any locality, which advisers shall be consulted by and shall assist the commissioner department in the execution of the commissioner's department's duties under the provisions of this section. The commissioner may appoint such advisers as deputies. Such persons, either as advisers or deputies, shall receive no compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary traveling expenses. Such expenses shall be audited and paid and charged to the commissioner department for the administration of this chapter.

AB150, s. 5930 Section 5930. 218.04 (8) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1925,19 218.04 (8) Hearings and orders. The commissioner department shall have the same power to conduct hearings, take testimony and secure evidence as is provided in ss. 217.17, 217.18 and 217.19.

AB150, s. 5931 Section 5931. 218.04 (9) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1925,23 218.04 (9) Administrative review. Any licensee or other person in interest being dissatisfied with any order of the commissioner department made under this section may have a review thereof as provided in s. 220.037.

AB150, s. 5932 Section 5932. 218.04 (9g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1926,6 218.04 (9g) (b) A licensee shall establish a trust account with a financial institution. The licensee shall notify the commissioner department of the name of the financial institution that maintains the trust account. The commissioner department may prohibit a licensee from establishing or maintaining a trust account in a financial institution if the commissioner department believes that the financial institution is operating in an unsafe or unsound manner.

AB150, s. 5933 Section 5933. 218.04 (9m) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1926,9 218.04 (9m) (title) Delinquent collection agencies; commissioner department may take possession.

AB150, s. 5934 Section 5934. 218.04 (9m) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1927,3 218.04 (9m) (a) If the commissioner department finds that a licensee is insolvent or that the licensee has collected accounts but has failed to remit money due to any claimant or forwarder within 30 days from the end of the month in which collection was made, and it is necessary to protect the interest of the public or when the license of a collection agency has expired or has terminated for any reason whatsoever, the commissioner department may take possession of the assets and the books and records of the licensee for the purpose of liquidating its business, and for such other relief as the nature of the case and the interest of the claimants or forwarders may require. The liquidation of business shall be made by and under the supervision of the commissioner department either in the name of the commissioner department or in the name of the licensee and the commissioner or the commissioner's successor department shall be vested with title to all of the assets including the proceeds of the bond or bonds which have been filed with the commissioner department as provided for under sub. (3) (d), and the proceeds of any and all money paid direct to the claimant or forwarder by the debtor prior to the date said license has terminated. Money paid to the licensee or to the commissioner department after the termination of the license shall be disposed of by the commissioner department with the approval of the circuit court.

AB150, s. 5935 Section 5935. 218.04 (9m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1927,9 218.04 (9m) (b) In taking possession of the property and business of any such collection agency, the commissioner department shall forthwith give notice to any and all banks or other financial institutions holding or in possession of any bank balances or assets of such agency and thereafter such assets shall be held subject to the order of the commissioner department.

AB150, s. 5936 Section 5936. 218.04 (9m) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1927,17 218.04 (9m) (c) In addition to the authority conferred by par. (b), the commissioner department may, with the approval of the circuit court for the county wherein the main office is located, for the purposes of collection or liquidation, sell, assign, convey and transfer or approve the sale, assignment, conveyance and transfer of the assets of such collection agency under such terms and conditions as the commissioner department may deem for the best interests of the claimants of such collection agency.

AB150, s. 5937 Section 5937. 218.04 (9m) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1928,16 218.04 (9m) (e) The commissioner department shall cause notice to be given by publication of a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, if no action has been commenced under par. (f), calling on all persons who may have claims against such licensee, to present the same to the commissioner department, and make legal proof thereof at a place and within a time, to be therein specified. The commissioner department may mail a similar notice to all persons whose names appear as claimants or forwarders upon the books and records of the licensee or as may appear in the records of the commissioner department on the sworn reports required to be furnished the commissioner department according to the provisions of sub. (10). Any claimant or forwarder whose portion of the collection or collections has not been properly remitted shall file a claim which shall be considered as a preferred claim for the amount actually due the claimant or forwarder after deducting any commission or fee that may be due and owing the licensee. If the commissioner department doubts the justice and validity of any claim, the commissioner department may reject the same and serve notice of such rejection upon the claimant either by mail or personally. An affidavit of the service of such notice, which shall be prima facie evidence thereof, shall be filed with the commissioner department. An action upon a claim so rejected must be brought in the circuit court for the county wherein the licensee is located within 30 days after such service of such notice of rejection of claim has been filed. Claims presented after the expiration of the time fixed in the notice to the claimants or forwarders shall be entitled to receive only liquidating dividends declared after presentation, unless otherwise ordered by the court. The court may fix a date after which all claims shall be barred.

AB150, s. 5938 Section 5938. 218.04 (9m) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1929,2 218.04 (9m) (f) Whenever any agency, of whose assets and business the commissioner department has taken possession, as aforesaid, deems itself aggrieved thereby, it may, at any time within 10 days after such taking possession, apply to the circuit court for the county in which the main office of such agency is located to enjoin further proceedings; and such court, after citing the commissioner department to show cause why further proceedings should not be enjoined and hearing the allegations and proofs of the parties and determining the facts, may, upon the merits dismiss such application or enjoin the commissioner department from further proceedings, and direct the commissioner department to surrender such business and property to such agency.

AB150, s. 5939 Section 5939. 218.04 (9m) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1929,12 218.04 (9m) (g) Whenever the commissioner department shall have paid to each and every claimant or forwarder of such collection agency whose claims as such claimant or forwarder have been duly proved and allowed the full amount of such claims and shall have made proper provisions for unclaimed and unpaid collections and shall have paid all the expenses of the liquidation, the commissioner department shall liquidate the remaining assets exclusive of the proceeds of the bond or bonds for the benefit of the general creditors; or if no claims have been filed by or in behalf of the general creditors, the commissioner department shall turn over the remaining assets to the circuit court for further disposition.

AB150, s. 5940 Section 5940. 218.04 (9m) (h) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1929,18 218.04 (9m) (h) All accounts and valuable papers given to the agency by the claimant or forwarder in possession of the commissioner department, pertaining to accounts placed with the agency for collection shall be returned to the claimant or forwarded by the commissioner department within 30 days after verification of the claim has been made.

AB150, s. 5941 Section 5941. 218.04 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1929,25 218.04 (10) (a) Each licensee shall annually, on or before the fifteenth day of March, file a report with the commissioner department giving such reasonable and relevant information as the commissioner department may, by general or special order, require concerning the business and operations conducted by such licensee within the state. Such report shall be made under oath and shall be in the form prescribed by the commissioner department.

AB150, s. 5942 Section 5942. 218.04 (10) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1930,8 218.04 (10) (b) The commissioner department shall require the licensee to keep such books and records in the licensee's place of business as will enable the commissioner department to determine whether the provisions of this section are being complied with. Every such licensee shall preserve the records of final entry used in such business for a period of at least 6 years after final remittance is made on any account placed with the licensee for collection or after any account has been returned to the claimant on which one or more payments have been paid.

AB150, s. 5943 Section 5943. 218.04 (13) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1930,15 218.04 (13) Enforcement. The commissioner department shall have the duty, power, jurisdiction and authority to investigate, ascertain and determine whether this section or the lawful orders issued hereunder are being violated and for such purposes the commissioner department shall have all the powers conferred by subs. (4) and (5). The commissioner department shall report all violations to the district attorney of the proper county for prosecution.

AB150, s. 5944 Section 5944. 218.05 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.

AB150, s. 5945 Section 5945. 218.05 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB150,1930,18 218.05 (1) (d) "Department" means the department of financial institutions.

AB150, s. 5946 Section 5946. 218.05 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1930,23 218.05 (2) Licenses required. After July 1, 1945, no person, firm, association, partnership or corporation shall engage in the business of a community currency exchange without first securing a license to do so from the commissioner department as required by this section.

AB150, s. 5947 Section 5947. 218.05 (3) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1931,3 218.05 (3) (a) (intro.) Application for such license shall be in writing, under oath, on a form to be prescribed by the commissioner department. Each application shall contain the following information:

AB150, s. 5948 Section 5948. 218.05 (3) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1931,6 218.05 (3) (a) 3. Such other information as the commissioner department may require.

AB150, s. 5949 Section 5949. 218.05 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1931,14 218.05 (3) (b) Such An application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $100 $300 for the cost of investigating the applicant. When the application has been approved by the commissioner and the applicant so advised If the cost of an investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall, upon demand of the commissioner, pay the excess cost. At the time of the application, the applicant shall pay an additional $100 $300 as an annual license fee for a period terminating ending on the last day of the current calendar year.

AB150, s. 5950 Section 5950 . 218.05 (3) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1995 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

AB150,1931,22 218.05 (3) (b) An application shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of $300 for the cost of investigating the applicant. If the cost of an investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall, upon demand of the commissioner department, pay the excess cost. At the time of the application, the applicant shall pay an additional $300 as an annual license fee for a period ending on the last day of the current calendar year.

AB150, s. 5951 Section 5951. 218.05 (3) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1932,9 218.05 (3) (c) Before any license is issued to a community currency exchange the applicant shall file annually with and have approved by the commissioner department a surety bond in the principal sum of $5,000, issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state. The bond shall run to the state of Wisconsin and shall be for the benefit of any creditors of the community currency exchange for any liability incurred for any sum due to any payee of any check, draft or money order left with the community currency exchange for collection, and also for any penalties that may be imposed under this section. If the commissioner department finds at any time the bond is insecure or exhausted or otherwise doubtful, an additional bond in like amount to be approved by the commissioner department shall be filed by the licensee within 30 days after written demand by the commissioner department.

AB150, s. 5952 Section 5952. 218.05 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1933,5 218.05 (4) Licenses; issuance; denial. If the commissioner department shall find after investigation that the applicant (a) is trustworthy and reputable, (b) has business experience qualifying the applicant to competently conduct, operate, own, or become associated with a community currency exchange, and (c) has a good business reputation and is worthy of a license, the commissioner department shall issue to the applicant qualifying hereunder, a license to operate a community currency exchange at the location specified in the application, which license shall remain in full force and effect until it is surrendered by the licensee or revoked by the commissioner department. If the commissioner department shall not so find, the commissioner department shall not issue such license and shall notify the applicant of such denial, retaining the investigation fee to cover the cost of investigating the applicant. The commissioner department shall approve or deny every application within 30 days from the filing thereof. No application shall be denied unless the applicant has had notice of a hearing on said application and an opportunity to be heard thereon. If the application is denied, the commissioner department shall, within 20 days thereafter, prepare and keep on file in the commissioner's office with the department a written order of denial which shall contain the commissioner's department's findings with respect thereto and the reasons supporting the denial, and shall mail a copy thereof to the applicant at the address set forth in the application, within 5 days after the filing of such order.

AB150, s. 5953 Section 5953. 218.05 (6) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB150,1933,14 218.05 (6) Insurance. Every applicant for a license under this section shall, after the application for a license has been approved, submit a policy or policies of insurance to be approved by the commissioner department, issued by an insurer authorized to do business in this state, which insures the applicant against loss by burglary, larceny, robbery, forgery or embezzlement in a principal sum determined by the commissioner department. Any such policy, with respect to forgery, may carry a condition that the community currency exchange assumes the first $50 of each claim thereunder.