HLS 14RS-1364 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2014 HOUSE BILL NO. 687 BY REPRESENTATIVE BARROW FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Requires online pay day lenders and out-of-state lenders to be licensed in the state AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 9:3557(B), 3560(A)(8) and (9), 3561(A), and 3561.1(G)(1) and2 to enact R.S. 9:3518.4 and 3561.2, relative to licensing and record maintenance for3 consumer credit transactions; to nullify certain consumer transactions and deferred4 presentment transactions; to provide relative to the location of offices of makers of5 consumer loans; to provide relative to records retention of makers of consumer6 loans; to provide relative to makers of consumer loans registration with the secretary7 of state; and to provide for related matters.8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9 Section 1. R.S. 9:3557(B), 3560(A)(8) and (9), 3561(A), and 3561.1(G)(1) are10 hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 9:3518.4 and 3561.2 are hereby enacted to read as11 follows:12 §3518.4. Contract validity; consumer credit transactions; deferred presentment13 transactions14 A.(1) A consumer credit transaction as defined by R.S. 9:3516(13) or15 deferred presentment transaction as defined by R.S. 9:3578(2) shall be null, void,16 unenforceable, and uncollectible as being contrary to the policy of this state if the17 creditor has not obtained a license, if required by this Chapter or 9:3578.1, et seq.,18 at the time the transaction is made.19 (2) The creditor shall forfeit all loans or transaction proceeds, fees, charges,20 and other amounts paid in association with the transaction or loan.21 HLS 14RS-1364 ORIGINAL HB NO. 687 Page 2 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. (3) Upon request of the borrower, the creditor shall return any property taken1 as collateral within thirty days of the request. If the collateral property has been2 disposed of at the time of the request, the creditor shall reimburse the borrower an3 amount equal to the current value of the collateral as determined by any recognized4 market for the type of collateral or, if there is no recognized market, the fair market5 value of any such property as determined by commercially reasonable standards.6 B. Any person who attempts to enforce or collect pursuant to the agreements7 nullified by this Section shall be subject to fines, penalties, assessments, and8 applicable administrative and legal actions at the discretion of the commissioner9 within the powers granted to him under this Chapter.10 C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to creditors exempt from11 the consumer loan licensing requirements pursuant to R.S. 9:3560 or any other12 creditor not required to obtain a license from the office of financial institutions.13 * * *14 §3557. Authority to make consumer loans15 * * *16 B. Provided that the creditor has one or more offices in this state, a A17 creditor may not take assignments of and undertake direct collection of payments18 from or enforce rights against consumers arising from consumer loans, without first19 having obtained a license from the commissioner as provided under this Part. A20 creditor may, however, collect and enforce consumer loan obligations of which he21 has taken assignment for three months without a license if he notifies the22 commissioner in writing of his intention to take assignments of consumer loans,23 including the name and address of the proposed assignee and assignor, the number24 of loans assigned, the dollar amount of the assignment, and other information the25 commissioner requires at least ten days prior to the time the assignment is made, and26 the commissioner has not objected, and such creditor promptly applies for a license27 and his application has not been denied.28 * * *29 HLS 14RS-1364 ORIGINAL HB NO. 687 Page 3 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. §3560. Licenses not required1 A. Notwithstanding R.S. 9:3557, the following persons shall be exempt from2 the consumer loan licensing requirements under this Part:3 * * *4 (8) A creditor having no office within this state offering credit to Louisiana5 consumers through the mails and other means of interstate commerce.6 (9) Unless otherwise provided by rule or regulation of the commissioner,7 persons whose lending activities pertain to federally related mortgage loans, and who8 are subject to licensing, supervision or auditing by the Federal National Mortgage9 Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Governmental10 National Mortgage Association, the Veterans Administration, or the United States11 Department of Housing and Urban Development. Such lenders may also make loans12 secured by a second or junior lien or mortgage on owner-occupied one-to-four family13 residential immovable property made contemporaneously with federally related14 mortgage loans or as part of a mortgage revenue bond loan program, or sold on the15 secondary market to the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home16 Loan Mortgage Corporation, or the Governmental National Mortgage Association,17 and the entity sells ten or fewer of such loans over any calendar year.18 * * *19 §3561. Single place of business; additional licenses20 A. Each licensee shall maintain a place of business in the state and, unless21 otherwise provided by rule, making consumer loans to Louisiana residents shall22 maintain records of its consumer loans at that the location stated on its license. Not23 more than one place of business shall be maintained under the same license, but the24 commissioner shall issue additional licenses to the same licensed lender upon his25 compliance with all the provisions of this Part governing issuance of a license.26 * * *27 §3561.1. License; examination; renewal fees; records28 * * *29 HLS 14RS-1364 ORIGINAL HB NO. 687 Page 4 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. G.(1) If the lender's records are located outside this state, the lender, at the1 commissioner's option, shall make them available in a format deemed by the2 commissioner to be acceptable to include physical reproductions and digital3 electronically imaged records, to the commissioner at a location within this state4 convenient to the commissioner, or via electronic transmittal or delivery of optical5 imaging disc containing electronic copies of the records, pay the reasonable and6 necessary expenses for the commissioner or his representatives to examine them at7 the place where they are maintained. The method of examination and delivery of8 records will be at the sole discretion of the commissioner. The commissioner may9 designate representatives, including comparable officials of the state in which the10 records are located, to inspect them on his behalf.11 * * *12 §3561.2. Registration of licensees with the secretary of state13 Any person required to be licensed pursuant to this Chapter shall, prior to14 application for licensure, be duly registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State and15 be in possession of a certificate of authority to transact business pursuant to R.S.16 12:304 or 1345, or R.S. 9:3422, as applicable.17 Section 2. This Act shall be effective September 30, 2014.18 DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] Barrow HB No. 687 Abstract: Provides relative to licensing and record maintenance pursuant to the Louisiana Consumer Credit Law and the Louisiana Deferred Presentment and Small Loan Act. Proposed law provides that a consumer credit transaction as defined by present law (R.S. 9:3516(13)) or deferred presentment transaction as defined by present law (R.S. 9:3578(2)) shall be null, void, unenforceable, and uncollectible as being contrary to the policy of this state if the creditor has not obtained a license from the office of financial institutions if required to do so. Present law prohibits a creditor from taking assignments of and undertaking direct collection of payments from or enforcing rights against consumers arising from consumer loans without an office in this state and first having obtained a license from the commissioner of the office of financial institutions (OFI). HLS 14RS-1364 ORIGINAL HB NO. 687 Page 5 of 5 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Proposed law retains present law and removes requirement that the creditor have an office in this state. Present law provides that a creditor having no office within this state who offers credit to Louisiana consumers through the mails and other means of interstate commerce is not required to be licensed by OFI. Proposed law removes present law. Present law provides that each licensee shall maintain a place of business in the state and, unless otherwise provided by rule, shall maintain records of its consumer loans at that location. Proposed law provides that each licensee making consumer loans to Louisiana residents, shall maintain records of its consumer loans at the location stated on its license. Present law provides that if the lender's records are located outside this state, the lender, at the commissioner's option, shall make them available to the commissioner at a location within this state convenient to the commissioner, or, pay the reasonable and necessary expenses for the commissioner or his representatives to examine them at the place where they are maintained. The commissioner may designate representatives, including comparable officials of the state in which the records are located, to inspect them on his behalf. Proposed law adds that if the lender's records are located outside this state, the lender, at the commissioner's option, shall make them available in a format deemed by the commissioner to be acceptable to include physical reproductions and digital electronically imaged records, or via electronic transmittal or delivery of optical imaging disc containing electronic copies of the records. The method of examination and delivery of records will be at the sole discretion of the commissioner. Proposed law provides that any person required to be licensed pursuant to this Chapter shall, prior to application for licensure, be duly registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State and be in possession of a certificate of authority to transact business pursuant to present law (R.S. 12:304 or 1345, or R.S. 9:3422), as applicable. (Amends R.S. 9:3557(B), 3560(A)(8) and (9), 3561(A), and 3561.1(G)(1); Adds R.S. 9:3518.4 and 3561.2)