SLS 10RS-460 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2010 SENATE BILL NO. 272 BY SENATOR DORSEY LOANS. Creates the Louisiana Tax Refund Anticipation Loan Act. (8/15/10) AN ACT1 To enact Chapter 2-A of Code Title XII of Code Book III of Title 9 of the Louisiana Revised2 Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 9:3579.1 through 3579.6, relative to the3 Louisiana Tax Refund Anticipation Loan Act; to provide for legislative intent; to4 provide for definitions; to provide for fees; to provide for notice; to provide for5 powers of the commissioner of financial institutions; and to provide for related6 matters.7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8 Section 1. Chapter 2-A of Code Title XII of Code Book III of Title 9 of the9 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 9:3579.1 through 3579.6, is10 hereby enacted to read as follows:11 CHAPTER 2-A. LOUISIANA TAX REFUND ANTICIPATION LOAN ACT12 §3579.1. Short title13 This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana Tax14 Refund Anticipation Loan Act."15 §3579.2. Legislative intent16 It is the intent of the legislature to regulate refund anticipation loans.17 SB NO. 272 SLS 10RS-460 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. These loans meet a legitimate credit need for many borrowers; however, in1 order to protect borrowers from excessive charges, it is the intent of the2 legislature to place certain restrictions on lenders who make these loans.3 §3579.3. Definitions4 (1) "Borrower" means the person or taxpayer who receives the proceeds5 of a refund anticipation loan or to whom this service is offered and accepted.6 (2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the office of financial7 institutions.8 (3)"Licensee" means a person or entity licensed pursuant to this Chapter9 that offers, processes, receives or accepts for delivery an application for a10 refund anticipation loan to a borrower.11 (4) "Refund anticipation loan" means a consumer loan made by a12 licensee to a borrower in anticipation of the borrower's projected federal or13 state tax refund.14 §3579.4. Fees15 In conjunction with a refund anticipation loan, a licensee may charge a16 fee not to exceed sixteen and seventy-five one hundredths percent of the total17 amount of the check issued by the licensee; provided, however, that such fee18 does not exceed forty-five dollars, regardless of the name or type of charge.19 §3579.5. Posting of notice; toll-free number20 The commissioner shall provide a notice, which includes a toll-free21 number to the commissioner's office, which shall be posted, along with the fees22 as allowed under this Chapter, in a conspicuous manner by the licensee at the23 lending location.24 §3579.6. Powers of the commissioner; adoption of rules and regulations25 A. The commissioner may apply the provisions of Parts I, VII, VIII, IX,26 and X of Chapter 2 of this Code Title, the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law, for27 purposes of administering and regulating the activities of licensees and the28 provisions of this Chapter.29 SB NO. 272 SLS 10RS-460 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. B. The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations as he deems1 necessary to implement the purposes and provisions of this Chapter.2 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller. DIGEST Proposed law defines a "refund anticipation loan" as a consumer loan made by a licensee to a borrower in anticipation of the borrower's projected federal or state tax refund. Proposed law defines a "licensee" as a person or entity licensed pursuant to proposed law that offers, processes, receives or accepts for delivery an application for a refund anticipation loan to a borrower. Proposed law limits the fee to a maximum of 16.75% of the total amount of the check issued by the licensee, not to exceed $45, regardless of the name or type of charge. Proposed law requires the commissioner of financial institutions to provide a notice, which includes a toll-free number to the commissioner's office, to be posted, along with the fees as allowed under proposed law, in a conspicuous manner by the licensee at the lending location. Proposed law authorizes the commissioner to apply the provisions of the La. Consumer Credit Law, for purposes of administering and regulating the activities of licensees and the provisions of proposed law. Proposed law authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules and regulations as he deems necessary to implement the purposes and provisions of proposed law. Effective August 15, 2010. (Adds R.S. 9: 3579.1-3579.6)