AB1037: Bill Text

LRB-4581/4

MDK:jld/wlj/kjf:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 1037

February 20, 2006 - Introduced by Representative Hundertmark, cosponsored by Senator Stepp. Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions.

AB1037,1,11 An Act to renumber and amend 180.1919 (1) (b); to amend 138.056 (4) (a) 1., 138.056 (4) (a) 2., 138.09 (4) (a) (intro.), 138.09 (4) (a) 1., 138.09 (4) (a) 2., 180.1911 (1), 220.02 (3), 220.04 (10), 220.06 (1), 220.285 (1), 220.285 (2), 421.202 (intro.), (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) and 428.101 (3); and to create 138.056 (4) (c), 138.09 (4) (d), 138.12 (5m), 180.1919 (1) (b) 2., 220.02 (2) (g) and 220.02 (2) (h) of the statutes; relating to: shareholders of service corporations that carry on the profession of certified public accounting; authority of the Division of Banking over loan companies and insurance premium finance companies; regulation of insurance premium finance companies, mortgage bankers, loan originators, and mortgage brokers; and requirements applicable to consumer loans secured by liens on residential real estate or mobile homes.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, certain loan companies and insurance premium finance companies are subject to regulation by the Division of Banking (division) in the Department of Financial Institutions. This bill makes the following changes to such regulation:

1. The bill specifies that each ground for the division to suspend or revoke the license of a loan company is a separate ground. Under current law, all of the grounds must be satisfied for the division to take such action.

2. The bill allows the division to require a loan company to pay the costs incurred by the division in investigating or taking disciplinary action against the loan company.

3. The bill allows the division to issue orders against insurance premium finance companies to prevent or correct certain prohibited actions. Under current law, the division has similar authority regarding other entities regulated by the division.

Also under current law, the division has regulatory authority over financial institutions, as well as certain loan companies, insurance premium finance companies, mortgage bankers, loan originators, and mortgage brokers. However, certain statutes under current law that refer to the division's regulatory authority omit references to insurance premium finance companies, mortgage bankers, loan originators, and mortgage brokers. This bill inserts the omitted references.

Under current law, with certain exceptions, consumer loans for $25,000 or less are subject to the Wisconsin Consumer Act (WCA). One exception applies to loans secured by first or subsequent liens on residential real property. If a consumer loan for $25,000 or less is secured by a first lien, the loan is not subject to the WCA, but is subject to certain requirements regarding delinquency charges, notices, debt collection, and accounting. These requirements are referred to below as the "first lien requirements." If a consumer loan for $25,000 or less is secured by a first or subsequent lien and the loan qualifies as a "high cost" loan, then the loan is not subject to the first lien requirements or the WCA. Instead, different requirements apply regarding payment and prepayment of the loan as well as certain disclosures that the lender must make. These requirements, which apply to loans of any amount, are referred to below as the "high cost requirements."

Thus, under current law, if a consumer loan for $25,000 or less is subject to either the first lien or high cost requirements, the WCA does not apply to the loan. In addition, if the high cost requirements apply to a loan, the first lien requirements do not apply to the loan.

This bill changes the foregoing applicability requirements. Under this bill, if the first lien requirements apply to a loan for $25,000 or less, then the WCA does not apply to the loan. However, if the high cost requirements apply to the loan, the loan is secured by a second or subsequent lien on residential real estate, and the loan is for $25,000 or less, then the WCA also applies to the loan. In addition, a loan subject to the high cost requirements is not automatically exempt from the first lien requirements. Instead, if a loan that is subject to the high cost requirements is for $25,000 or less, and the loan is secured by a first lien, then the first lien requirements also apply to the loan.

Also under current law, certain variable rate loans are subject to certain requirements, including a requirement for the lender to give the borrower notice if a change in the interest rate occurs. The variable rate loans are defined as certain loans secured by first liens or equivalent security interests. Current law requires notice to be given at least 30 days before the change if an increase in periodic payments other than the final payment is required. This bill changes the 30 days to 15 days. For all other changes, current law requires notice to be given no later than 15 days after the change. This bill changes the 15 days to 30 days. In addition, the bill provides that variable loans that are secured by first liens, and not loans that are secured by equivalent security interests, are subject to these notice requirements. Whether a security interest is an equivalent security interest is determined as of the date that the loan is made.

Finally, current law contains conflicts regarding whether a person who is not a certified public accountant may be a shareholder of a service corporation that is organized for carrying on the profession of certified public accounting. One statute specifies that such a service corporation may be organized if more than 50 percent of the shareholders are certified public accountants. Another statute generally requires each shareholder, director, and officer of a service corporation to be licensed, certified, or registered by a state agency in the same field of endeavor. In addition, another statute requires a service corporation to convert to a business corporation if all shareholders cease at any one time to be licensed, certified, or registered in the same field of endeavor. This bill eliminates these conflicts. Under this bill, a service corporation may be organized for carrying on the profession of certified public accounting if more than 50 percent of the shareholders are certified public accountants. If such a service corporation ceases to satisfy this requirement, it must convert to a business corporation.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB1037, s. 1 Section 1. 138.056 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,3,3 138.056 (4) (a) 1. At least 30 15 days before the change if an increase in periodic payments other than the final payment is required.

AB1037, s. 2 Section 2. 138.056 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,3,5 138.056 (4) (a) 2. Not later than 15 30 days after any other change.

AB1037, s. 3 Section 3. 138.056 (4) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,3,8 138.056 (4) (c) This subsection does not apply to a loan secured by an equivalent security interest as determined as of the date that the loan is made.

AB1037, s. 4 Section 4. 138.09 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,4,10 138.09 (4) (a) (intro.) The division for the purpose of discovering violations of this chapter may cause an investigation to be made of the business of the licensee transacted under this section, and shall cause an investigation to be made of convictions reported to the division by any district attorney for violation by a licensee of this chapter. The place of business, books of account, papers, records, safes and vaults of said licensee shall be open to inspection and examination by the division for the purpose of such investigation and the division may examine under oath all persons whose testimony the division may require relative to said investigation. The division may, upon notice to the licensee and reasonable opportunity to be heard, suspend or revoke such license after such hearing if any of the following applies:

AB1037, s. 5 Section 5. 138.09 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,4,14 138.09 (4) (a) 1. The licensee has violated any provision of this chapter and if the division determines such violation justifies the suspension or revocation of the license;.

AB1037, s. 6 Section 6. 138.09 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,4,18 138.09 (4) (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 division in refusing to issue such license; and.

AB1037, s. 7 Section 7. 138.09 (4) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,4,24 138.09 (4) (d) The cost of any investigation, examination, or hearing, including witness fees or any other expenses, conducted by the division under this section shall be paid by the licensee so examined within 30 days after demand therefor by the division, and the state may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs and expenses.

AB1037, s. 8 Section 8. 138.12 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,5,1 138.12 (5m) Disciplinary orders. (a) In this subsection:

AB1037,5,2 1. "General order" means an order of the division other than a special order.

AB1037,5,3 2. "Special order" means an order of the division to or affecting a person.

AB1037,5,6 (b) The division may issue general orders or special orders necessary to prevent or correct actions by an insurance premium finance company that constitute cause under this section for revoking, suspending, or restricting a license.

AB1037, s. 9 Section 9. 180.1911 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,5,15 180.1911 (1) Except as provided in s. ss. 180.1903 (1m) and 180.1913, each shareholder, director and officer of a service corporation must at all times be licensed, certified or registered by a state agency in the same field of endeavor or be a health care professional. An individual who is not so licensed, certified or registered may not have any part in the ownership or control of the service corporation, except that the nonparticipant spouse of a married individual has the rights of ownership provided under ch. 766. A proxy to vote any shares of the service corporation may not be given to a person who is not so licensed, certified or registered.

AB1037, s. 10 Section 10. 180.1919 (1) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 180.1919 (1) (b) 1. and amended to read:

AB1037,5,23 180.1919 (1) (b) 1. If Except as provided in subd. 2., if all shareholders of a service corporation cease at any one time and for any reason to be licensed, certified or registered in the particular field of endeavor for which the service corporation was organized, the service corporation is converted into and shall operate solely as a business corporation under applicable provisions of this chapter, exclusive of ss. 180.1901 to 180.1921.

AB1037, s. 11 Section 11. 180.1919 (1) (b) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,6,5 180.1919 (1) (b) 2. If not more than 50 percent of the shareholders in a service corporation described in s. 180.1903 (1m) at any one time are not certified public accountants, the service corporation is converted into and shall operate solely as a business corporation under applicable provisions of this chapter, exclusive of ss. 180.1901 to 180.1921.

AB1037, s. 12 Section 12. 220.02 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,6,7 220.02 (2) (g) Insurance premium finance companies under s. 138.12.

AB1037, s. 13 Section 13. 220.02 (2) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

AB1037,6,10 220.02 (2) (h) Mortgage bankers, loan originators, and mortgage brokers under subch. III of ch. 224.

AB1037, s. 14 Section 14. 220.02 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,6,21 220.02 (3) It is the intent of sub. (2) to give the division jurisdiction to enforce and carry out all laws relating to banks or banking in this state, including those relating to state banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, and trust company banks, and also all laws relating to small loan companies or other loan companies or agencies, finance companies, insurance premium finance companies, motor vehicle dealers, adjustment service companies, community currency exchanges, mortgage bankers, loan originators, mortgage brokers, and collection agencies and those relating to sellers of checks under ch. 217, whether doing business as corporations, individuals, or otherwise, but to exclude laws relating to credit unions.

AB1037, s. 15 Section 15. 220.04 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,7,10 220.04 (10) If it appears to the division that a person has engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice constituting a violation of the laws of this state relating to banks and banking, including this chapter, chs. 217, 218 and 221 to 224 and s. ss. 138.09 and 138.12, or a rule promulgated or order issued under those laws, the division may bring an action in the name of the state in the circuit court of the appropriate county to enjoin the acts or practices and to enforce compliance with the laws, rules or orders, or the division may refer the matter to the district attorney of the appropriate county or, if the alleged violation may be enforced by the attorney general under sub. (12) or s. 220.12, 221.1005 or 224.06 (7) or is statewide in nature, to the attorney general. Upon a proper showing, the court may grant a permanent or temporary injunction or restraining order, appoint a receiver for the defendant or the defendant's assets or order rescission of any acts determined to be unlawful. The court may not require the division to post a bond.

AB1037, s. 16 Section 16. 220.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,7,14 220.06 (1) In this section, "licensee" means a person licensed by the division under ch. 138, 217 or 218 or under s. 224.92 or registered by the division under s. 224.72.

AB1037, s. 17 Section 17. 220.285 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,8,2 220.285 (1) Any state bank, trust company bank, licensee under ss. 138.09, 138.12, 218.0101 to 218.0163, 218.02, 218.04 or 218.05 or ch. 217, or person registered under s. 224.72 may cause any or all records kept by such bank or, licensee, or registered person to be recorded, copied or reproduced by any photostatic, photographic or miniature photographic process or by optical imaging if the process employed correctly, accurately and permanently copies, reproduces or forms a medium for copying, reproducing or recording the original record on a film or other durable material. A bank or, licensee , or registered person may thereafter dispose of the original record after first obtaining the written consent of the division. This section, excepting that part of it which requires written consent of the division, is applicable to national banking associations insofar as it does not contravene federal law.

AB1037, s. 18 Section 18. 220.285 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB1037,8,12 220.285 (2) Any photographic, photostatic or miniature photographic copy or reproduction or copy reproduced from a film record or any copy of a record generated from optical disk storage of a bank record or record of a licensee or registered person is considered to be an original record for all purposes and shall be treated as an original record in all courts or administrative agencies for the purpose of its admissibility in evidence. A facsimile, exemplification or certified copy of any such photographic copy or reproduction, copy reproduced from a film record or copy generated from optical disk storage of a record shall, for all purposes, be considered a facsimile, exemplification or certified copy of the original record.

AB1037, s. 19 Section 19. 421.202 (intro.), (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) of the statutes are amended to read:

AB1037,8,16 421.202 Exclusions. (intro.) Chapters 421 to 427 do not apply to any of the following:

AB1037,8,17 (1) Extensions of credit to organizations (s. 421.301 (28));.

AB1037,8,18 (2) Transactions in which all parties are organizations (s. 421.301 (28));.

AB1037,8,24 (3) Charges for delayed payment and any discount allowed for early payment in transactions under public utility or common carrier tariffs if a subdivision or agency of this state or of the United States regulates such charges or discounts, or if such charges or discounts are made in connection with the furnishing of electric service by an electric cooperative organized and operating on a nonprofit basis under ch. 185;.