HB1927 HFLR Page 1 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) HOUSE BILL 1927 By: Sims AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to liens; amending 42 O.S. 2021, Sections 91 and 91A, which relate to liens on personal property; requiring proper ty to be possessed for a certain number of days be fore Notice of Sale can be mailed; prohibiting additional fees for resubmission of title application under certain circumstances; providing that a Notice of Possessory Lien and the Notice of Sale may be mai led on the date of title application submission; r equiring in the event of title application resubmissions the storage charges shall only be charged from the date of resubmission; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 42 O.S. 2021, Section 91, is amended to read as follows: Section 91. A. 1. a. This section applies to every vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, manufacture d home, motorcycle, boat, outboard motor, or trailer that ha s a certificate of title issued by the Oklahoma Tax HB1927 HFLR Page 2 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, except as otherwise provided in subsection D of this section. Th is section does not apply to farm equipment as defined in Se ction 91.2 of this title. The items of personal property to which this section applies are collectively referred to as "Section 91 Personal Property ". If personal property is apparently covered both by this section and by Sections 191 through 200 of this title, the procedures set out in this section shall apply instead of Sections 191 through 200 of this title. b. Salvage pools as defined in Section 591.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes and class AA licensed wrecker services taking possession of a ve hicle pursuant to an agreement with or at the direction of, or dispatched by, a state or local law enforcement or government agency, or pursuant to the abandoned vehicle renewal provisions of Section 954A of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall not be subject to the provisions of this section, but shall be subject to the provisions of Section 91A of this title. Unless otherwise provided by this subparagraph, class AA licensed wrecker services performing consensual tows shall be subject to the provision s of this section. HB1927 HFLR Page 3 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Any person who, while lawfully in possession of an article of Section 91 Personal Property, renders any service to the owner thereof by furnishing storage, rental space, mat erial, labor or skill for the protection, improvement, safek eeping, towing, right to occupy space, storage or carriage thereof, has a special lien thereon, dependent on possession, for the compensation, if any, which is due to such person from the owner fo r such service. 3. This special lien shall be subordinate t o any perfected security interest unless the claimant complies with the requirements of this section. Failure to comply with any requirements of this section shall result in denial of any title a pplication and cause the special lien to be subordinate to a ny perfected lien. Upon such denial, the applicant shall be entitled to one resubmission of the title application within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the denial, and proceed to comply with the requirements of this section. In the event of a d enial, the Notice of Possessory Lien and the Notice of Sale may be mailed on the same day in separate envelopes and storage charges shall only be charged from the date of resubmission; however, before a Notice of Sale is to be mailed, the personal property must have been possessed by the possessory lien claimant for at least twenty -one (21) days. Furthermore, if the denial was due to error by the party submitting the title application, then no add itional fee for the resubmission shall be HB1927 HFLR Page 4 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 charged to the property owner. "Failure to comply" includes, but is not limited to: a. failure to timely provide additional documentation supporting or verifying any entry on submitted forms as requested by the Ta x Commission, including but not limited to United States Pos tal Service proof of return receipt requested such as Form 3811 or United States Postal Service electronic equivalent, b. failure to provide the documentation supporting lawful possession as defined in paragraph 3 of subsection H of this section, c. claimant or the agent being other than the individual who provided the service giving rise to the special lien, as in paragraph 2 of this subsection, d. claimant not being in possession of the vehicle, e. notice of lien not filed in accordance with paragraph 4 of this subsection, or f. foreclosure notification and proceedings not accomplished in accordance with paragraph 6 of this section. 4. Any person claiming the special lien provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection shall mail a notice of such lien, no late r than sixty (60) days after the first services are rendered, by regular, first-class United States mail, and by certified mail, return HB1927 HFLR Page 5 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 receipt requested, to all interested parties who reside at s eparate locations. If services provided are pursuant to a c ontract primarily for the purpose of storage or rental of space, the beginning date of the sixty -day period provided in the previous sentence shall be the first day of the first period or partial period for which rental or storage charges remain unpaid. T he notice shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be limited to, the following: a. a statement that the notice is a Notice of Possessory Lien, b. the complete legal name, physical and maili ng address, and telephone number of the claimant, c. the complete legal name, physical and mailing address of the person who requested that the claimant render service to the owner by furnishing material, labor or skill, storage, or rental space, or the da te the property was abandoned if the claimant did not render any other service, d. a description of the article of personal property, including a photograph if the property is Section 91 Personal Property, and the complete physical and mailing address of t he location of the article of personal property, HB1927 HFLR Page 6 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 e. an itemized statement describing the date or dates the labor or services were performed and material furnished, and the charges claimed for each item, the totals of which shall equal the total compensatio n claimed, f. a statement by the claimant that the materials , labor or skill furnished, or arrangement for storage or rental of space, was authorized by the owner of the personal property and was in fact provided or performed, and written proof of authorit y to perform the work, labor or service, or that the propert y was abandoned by the owner if the claimant did not render any other service, and that storage or rental fees will accrue as allowed by law, and g. the signature of the claimant which shall be no tarized and, if applicable, the signature of the claimant 's attorney. If the claimant is a business, then the name of the contact person representing the business must be shown. In place of an original signature and notary seal, a digital or electronic s ignature or seal shall be accepted. 5. For services rendere d or vehicles abandoned on or after November 1, 2005, storage charges or charges for rental of space, unless agreed to by contract as part of an overall transaction or HB1927 HFLR Page 7 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 arrangement that was primari ly for the purpose of storage of the Section 91 Personal Pro perty or rental of space, may only be assessed beginning with the day that the Notice of Possessory Lien is mailed as evidenced by certified mail. Provided, however, in the case of contractual ch arges incurred for storage or rental of space in an overall transaction primarily for the purpose of storage or rental, charges subject to the special lien may only be assessed beginning with a date not more than sixty (60) days prior to the day that the Notice of Possessory Lien is mailed, and shall accrue only at the regular periodic rate for storage or rental as provided in the contract, adjusted for partial periods of storage or rental. The maximum allowable compensation for storage shall not exceed th e fees established by the Corporation Commission for noncons ensual tows. 6. The lien may be foreclosed by a sale of such personal property upon the notice and in the manner following: The Notice of Sale shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be l imited to: a. a statement that the notice is a Notice of Sal e, b. the names of all interested parties known to the claimant, c. a description of the property to be sold, including a photograph if the property is Section 91 Personal Property and if the cond ition of such property has materially changed since the mail ing of Notice of HB1927 HFLR Page 8 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Possessory Lien required pursuant to paragraph 4 of this subsection, d. a notarized statement of the nature of the work, labor or service performed, material furnished, or storage or rental of space, and the date thereof, and the name of the person who authorized the work, labor or service performed, or the storage or rental arrangement, and written proof of authority to perform the work, labor or service, or that the property was abandoned if the claimant did not render any other service, e. the date, time, and exact physical location of sale, f. the name, complete physical address, mailing address, and telephone number of the party foreclosing such lien. If the claimant is a busi ness, then the name of the contact person representing the b usiness must be shown. In place of an original signature and notary seal, a digital or electronic signature or seal shall be accepted, and g. itemized charges which shall equal the total compensation claimed. 7. Such Notice of Sale shall be posted in two public places in the county where the property is to be sold at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale, and a copy of the HB1927 HFLR Page 9 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 notice shall be mailed to all interested par ties at their last-known post office address by regular, fir st-class United States mail and by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least ten (10) days before the date of the sale. If the item of personal property is a manufactured home, notice sh all also be sent by certified mail to the county treasurer a nd to the county assessor of the county where the manufactured home is located. 8. Interested parties shall include all owners of the article of personal property as indicated by the certificate of title issued by the Tax Commission or by a federally reco gnized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma; lien debtors, if any, other than the owners; any lienholder whose lien is noted on the face of the certificate of title; and any other person having a ny interest in the article of personal property, of whom the claimant has actual notice. 9. Any interested party shall be permitted to inspect and verify the services rendered by the claimant prior to the sale of the article of personal property during no rmal business hours. The lienholder shall be allowed to ret rieve the Section 91 Personal Property without being required to bring the title into the lienholder's name, if the lienholder provides proof it is a lienholder and any payment due the claimant fo r lawful charges where the claimant has complied with the re quirements of this section. Upon the release of personal property to an insurer or representative of the insurer, wrecker operators shall be exempt HB1927 HFLR Page 10 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 from all liability and shall be held harmless f or any losses or claims of loss. 10. The claimant or any ot her person may in good faith become a purchaser of the property sold. 11. Proceedings for foreclosure under this act shall be commenced no sooner than ten (10) days and no later than thirty (30) days after the Notice of Possessory Lien has been mailed as evidenced by certified mail. The date actually sold shall be within sixty (60) days from the date of the Notice of Sale as evidenced by certified mail. B. 1. a. Any person who is induced by mean s of a check or other form of written order for immediate pa yment of money to deliver up possession of an article of personal property on which the person has a special lien created by subsection A of this section, which check or other written order is dis honored, or is not paid when presented, shall have a lien fo r the amount thereof upon the personal property. b. The person claiming such lien shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of dishonor of the check or other written order for payment of money, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in whi ch the property is situated a sworn statement that: HB1927 HFLR Page 11 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (1) the check or other written order for immediate payment of money, copy thereof being attached, was received for labor, material or supplies f or producing or repairing an article of personal property, or for other specific property -related services covered by this section, (2) the check or other written order was not paid, and (3) the uttering of the check or other written order constituted the means for inducing the person, one possessed of a special li en created by subsection A of this section upon the described article of personal property, to deliver up the article of personal property. 2. a. Any person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property by furnishing storage, rental space, material, labor, or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, right to occupy space, storage, or carriage thereof shall have a special lien on such property pursuant to th is section if such property is removed from the person 's possession, without such person 's written consent or without payment for such service. HB1927 HFLR Page 12 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 b. The person claiming such lien shall, within five (5) days of such nonauthorized removal, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, a sworn statement including: (1) that services were rendered on or in relation to the article of personal property by the person claiming such lien, (2) that the property was in the possess ion of the person claiming the lien but such property was removed without his or her written consent, (3) an identifying description of the article of personal property on which the service was rendered, and (4) that the debt for the services rendered on o r in relation to the article of personal property was not paid. Provided, if the unpaid total amount of the debt for services rendered on or in relation to the article of personal property is unknown, an approximated amount of the debt due and owing shall be included in the sworn statement but such approximated de bt may be amended within thirty (30) days of such filing to reflect the actual amount of the debt due and owing. HB1927 HFLR Page 13 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. The enforcement of the lien shall be within sixty (60) days after filing the lien in the manner provided by law for enforcing the lien of a security agreement and provided that the lien shall not affect the rights of innocent, intervening purchasers without notice. C. If the person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property to which this section applies relinquishes or loses possession of the article due to circumstances described in subparagraph a of paragraph 1 or subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section, the person claiming the lien sh all be entitled to possession of the article until the amoun t due is paid, unless the article is possessed by a person who became a bona fide purchaser. Entitlement to possession shall be in accordance with the following: 1. The claimant may take possess ion of an article pursuant to this subsection only if the pe rson obligated under the contract for services has signed an acknowledgement of receipt of a notice that the article may be subject to repossession. The notice and acknowledgement pursuant to thi s subsection shall be: a. in writing and separate from the w ritten contract for services, or b. printed on the written contract for services, credit agreement or other document which displays the notice in bold-faced, capitalized and underlined type, or is HB1927 HFLR Page 14 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 separated from surrounding written material so as to be conspicuous with a separate signature line; 2. The claimant may require the person obligated under the contract for services to pay the costs of repossession as a condition for reclaiming the articl e only to the extent of the reasonable fair market value of the services required to take possession of the article; 3. The claimant shall not transfer to a third party or to a person who performs repossession services, a check, money order, or credit card transaction that is received as payment for services with respect to an article and that is returned to the claimant because of insufficient funds or no funds, because the person writing the check, issuing the money order, or credit cardholder has no account or because the check, money order, or credit card accou nt has been closed. A person violating this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and 4. An article that is repossessed pursuant to this subsection shall be promptly delivered to the locat ion where the services were performed. The article shall re main at the services location at all times until the article is lawfully returned to the record owner or a lienholder or is disposed of pursuant to this section. D. 1. If a vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, manufactured home, motorcycle, boa t, outboard motor, or trailer has a certificate of title issued by the Tax Commission or by a HB1927 HFLR Page 15 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, but there is no active lien recorded on th e certificate of title, Section 91A of this title will apply instead of this section. Likewise, if there is an active lien recorded on the certificate of title but the lien is over fifteen (15) years old and the property is not a manufactured home, Sectio n 91A of this title will apply instead of this section. 2. If personal property that otherwise would be covered by this section has been registered by the Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, and there is a lien of record but no certificate of title has been issued, Se ction 91A of this title will apply instead of this section. 3. If personal property otherwise would be covered by this section, but the services were rendered or the property was abandoned prior to November 1, 2005, Section 91A of this title will apply instead of this section. E. A person who knowingly makes a false statement of a material fact regarding the furnishing of storage, rental space, material, labor or skill for the protection, improve ment, safekeeping, towing, right to occupy space, storage or carriage thereof in a proceeding under this section, or attempts to use or uses the provisions of this section to foreclose an owner or lienholder 's interest in a vehicle knowing that any of the statements made in the proceeding are false, upon conviction , shall be guilty of a felony. HB1927 HFLR Page 16 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 F. Upon receipt of notice of legal proceedings, the Tax Commission shall cause the sale process to be put on hold until notice of resolution of court proceedings is received from the court. If such notice of commencement of court proceedings is not filed with the Tax Commission, the possessory lien sale process may continue. G. No possessory lien sale shall be held on a Sunday. H. For purposes of this section: 1. "Possession" includes actual possession and constructive possession; 2. "Constructive possession " means possession by a person who, although not in actual possession, does not have an intention to abandon property, knowingly has both power and the intent ion at a given time to exercise dominion or control over the property, and who holds claim to such thing by virtue of some legal right; 3. "Lawfully in possession " means a person has documentation from the owner or the owner 's authorized agent, or an insu rance company or its authorized agent, authorizing the furni shing of material, labor or storage, or that the property was authorized to be towed to a repair facility. If the person lacks such documentation, he or she shall not be lawfully in possession of the Section 91 Personal Property and shall not be entitled to a special lien as set forth in this section; and HB1927 HFLR Page 17 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 4. "Itemized charges" means total parts, total labor, total towing fees, total storage fees, total processing fees and totals of any other fee groups, the sum total of which shall equal the compensation claimed. I. For purposes of this section, the United States Postal Service approved electronic equivalent of proof of return receipt requested Form 3811 shall satisfy return receipt requested documentation requirements. J. If a person claiming a special lien pursuant to this section fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section, any interested party may proceed against the person claiming such lien for all damages arising therefrom , including conversion, if the article of personal property has been sold. If the notice or notices required by this section shall be shown to be knowingly false or fraudulent, the interested party shall be entitled to treble damages. The prevailing part y shall be entitled to all costs, including reasonable attor ney fees. K. This section shall apply to all actions or proceedings that commence on or after the effective date of this act. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 42 O.S. 2021, Section 91a, is amended to read as follows: Section 91a. A. 1. a. This section applies to all types of personal property other than: HB1927 HFLR Page 18 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (1) farm equipment as defined in Section 91.2 of this title, and (2) "Section 91 Personal Property " as defined in Section 91 of this title. b. This section applies to any vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, manufactured home, motorcycle, boat, outboard motor, or trailer that is excluded from coverage under subsection A of Section 91 of this title because the personal pro perty: (1) does not have a certificate of title, (2) has a certificate of title but does not have an active lien recorded on the certificate of title, (3) has a certificate of title that is not issued by the Oklahoma Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, or (4) is otherwise excluded by subparagraph b of paragraph 1 of subsection A of Section 91 of this title or subsection D of Section 91 of this title. c. If personal property has a certificate of title, or would be required to have a certificate of title under Oklahoma law, and is apparently covered both by this section and by Sections 191 through 200 of this title, HB1927 HFLR Page 19 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 the procedures set out in this section shall apply instead of Sections 191 through 200 of this titl e. If personal property without a certificate of title and not required to be titled under Oklahoma law is covered both by this section and Sections 191 through 200 of this title, the procedures set out in Sections 191 through 200 of this title shall appl y instead of this section. 2. a. Any person who, while lawfu lly in possession of an article of personal property to which this section applies, renders any service to the owner thereof by furnishing storage, rental space, material, labor or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeeping, towing, right to occupy space, storage or carriage thereof, has a special lien thereon, dependent on possession, for the compensation, if any, which is due to such person from the owner for such service. Charges owed under a contract primarily for the purpose of storage or rent al of space shall be accrued only at the regular periodic rate for storage or rental as provided in the contract, adjusted for partial periods of storage or rental. b. Except for Class AA licensed wrecker towing charges, the special lien shall be subordina te to any perfected HB1927 HFLR Page 20 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 security interest unless the claimant complies with the requirements of this section. Failure to comply with any requirements of this section shall result in denial of any title application and cause the special lien to be subordinate to any perfected lien. Upon such denial, the applicant shall be entitled to one resubmission of the title application within thirty (30) business days of receipt of the denial, and proceed to comply with the requirements of this section. In the event of a denial, the Notice of Possessory Lien and the Notice of Sale may be mailed on the same day in separate envelopes and storage charges shall only be charged from the date of resubmission; however, before a Notice of Sale is to be mailed, the personal prope rty must have been possessed by the possessory lien claimant for at least twenty-one (21) days. Furthermore, if the denial was due to error by the party submitting the title application, then no additional fee for the resubmission shall be charged to the property owner. "Failure to comply" includes, but is not limited to: (1) failure to timely provide additional documentation supporting or verifying any entry HB1927 HFLR Page 21 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 on submitted forms as requested by th e Tax Commission, (2) failure to provide the documentation s upporting lawful possession as outlined in paragraph 3 of subsection H of this section, (3) claimant being other than the individual who provided the service giving rise to the special lien, as in subparagraph a of this paragraph, (4) claimant not being in possession of the vehicle, or (5) notification and proceedings not accomplished in accordance with subparagraph c of this paragraph, and paragraph 3 of this subsection. c. Any person claiming a l ien under this section shall request, within five (5) busine ss days of performing any service or work on the property, the Tax Commission or other appropriate license agency to furnish the name and address of the current owner of and any lienholder upon th e property. The Motor Vehicle Division of the Tax Commissio n or appropriate license agency shall respond in person or by mail to the lien claimant within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the request for information. The Tax Commission shall rende r assistance to ascertain HB1927 HFLR Page 22 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ownership, if needed. The lien cl aimant shall send, within seven (7) business days of receipt of the requested information from the Oklahoma Tax Commission or other license agency, a notice of the location of the property by cert ified mail with return receipt requested, postage prepaid, t o the owner and any lienholder of the vehicle at the addresses furnished. The lien claimant may charge Twenty Dollars ($20.00) for processing plus the cost of postage if the notice is timely sent pursuant to the requirements of this subparagraph in additi on to fees regulated by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for licensed wreckers. If the lien claimant is unable to meet the time requirements due to a lack of or an altered vehicle identification number on the property, the lien claimant shall proceed d iligently to obtain the proper vehicle identification number and shall meet the time requirements on the notice once the vehicle identification number is known. If the lien claimant is required to send additional notices because of change of ownership or lienholder after it has timely complied with the requirements of this subparagraph, the lien claimant shall remain in compliance if such additional notices are sent within the required time HB1927 HFLR Page 23 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 periods from the date of discovery of the new owners or lienholders. The notice shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be limited to, the following: (1) a statement that the notice is a Notice of Possessory Lien, (2) the complete legal name, physical an d mailing address, and telephone number of the claimant, (3) the complete legal name, physical and mailing address of the person who requested that the claimant render service to the owner by furnishing material, labor or skill, storage, or rental space, or the date the property was abandoned if the claimant did no t render any other service, (4) a description of the article of personal property, and the complete physical and mailing address of the location of the article of personal property, (5) the nature of the work, labor or service performed, material furnished , or the storage or rental arrangement, and the date thereof, and written proof of authority to perform the work, labor or service provided that, in the case of a law enforcement directed tow, the logbook entry HB1927 HFLR Page 24 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 prescribed in OAC 595:25 -5-5 or the tow ticket as defined by the Corporation Commission shall serve as written proof of authority, (6) the signature of the claimant which shall be notarized and, if applicable, the signature of the claimant's attorney. If the claimant is a business, the name of the c ontact person representing the business shall be shown. In place of an original signature and notary seal, a digital or electronic signature or seal shall be accepted, and (7) an itemized statement describing the date or dates the labor or services were p erformed and material furnished and the charges claimed for each item, the totals of which shall equal the total compensation claimed. The lien claimant shall not be required to send the notice required in this subparagraph if the property is released to an interested party before the notice is mailed and no additional charges or fees continue to accrue. If a law enforcement agency has the property towed to a law enforcement facility, the person claiming a lien under this section shall not be required to send notice until the property is released HB1927 HFLR Page 25 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by law enforcement to the claimant or the date which claimant starts charging storage, whichever is earlier. A lien claimant shall have an extension of ten (10) business days to send the notice required in this subparagraph if a state of emergency has been declared in the county in which the property is located. d. Subparagraphs b and c of this paragraph shall not apply to salvage pools as defined in Secti on 591.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 3. The lien may be foreclosed by a sale of such personal property upon the notice and in the manner following: The notice shall be in writing and shall contain, but not be limited to: a. the names of the own er and any other known party or parties who may claim any in terest in the property, b. a description of the property to be sold, including a visual inspection or a photograph if the property is a motor vehicle, and the physical location of the property, c. the nature of the work, labor or service performed, material furnished, or the storage or rental arrangement, and the date thereof, and written proof of authority to perform the work, labor or service provided. In the case of a law enforcement directed HB1927 HFLR Page 26 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 tow, the logbook entry prescribed in OAC 595:25 -5-5 or the tow ticket as defined by the Corporation Commission, shall serve as written proof of authority, d. the time and place of sale, e. the name, telephone number, physical address and mailing address of the claimant, and agent or attorney, if any, foreclosing suc h lien. If the claimant is a business, then the name of the contact person representing the business must be shown. In place of an original signature and notary seal, a digital or electronic sig nature or seal shall be accepted, and f. itemized charges which shall equal the total compensation claimed. 4. a. Such Notice of Sale shall be posted in two public places in the county where the property is to be sold at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale, and a copy of the notice shall be mailed to the owner and any other party claiming any interest in the property, if known, at their last-known post office address, by certified mail, return receipt requested, at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale. If the item of personal property is a manufactured home, HB1927 HFLR Page 27 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 notice shall also be sent by certified mail to the county treasurer and to the county assessor of the county where the manufactured home is located. b. In the case of any item of personal property wi thout a certificate of title and not required to be titled under Oklahoma law, a party who claims any interest in the property shall include all owners of the property; any secured party who has a n active financing statement on file with the county clerk o f Oklahoma County listing one or more owners of the property by legal name as debtors and indicating a collateral description that would include the property; and any other person having any inter est in the personal property, of whom the claimant has actua l notice. c. In the case of personal property subject to this section for which a certificate of title has been issued by any jurisdiction, a party who claims any interest in the property shall in clude all owners of the article of personal property as indi cated by the certificate of title; lien debtors, if any, other than the owners; any lienholder whose lien is noted on the face of the certificate of title; and any other person having any interest in the article of personal property, of whom the claimant h as actual notice. HB1927 HFLR Page 28 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 d. When the jurisdiction of titling for a vehicle, all - terrain vehicle, motorcycle, boat, outboard motor, or trailer that is five (5) model years old or newer, or a manufactured home that is fifteen (15) model years old or newer, cannot b e determined by ordinary means, the claimant, the agent of the claimant, or the attorney of the claimant, shall request, in writing, that the Oklahoma Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division ascertain the jurisdiction where the vehicle or manufactured home i s titled. The Oklahoma Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division shall, within fourteen (14) days from the date the request is received, provide information as to the jurisdiction where the personal property is titled. If the Oklahoma Tax Commission Motor Ve hicle Division is unable to provide the information, it shall provide notice that the record is not available. e. When personal property is of a type that Oklahoma law requires to be titled, the o wner of record of that property is unknown, and the jurisdic tion of titling and owner of record cannot be determined by ordinary means and also, if applicable, cannot be determined in accordance with the preceding subparagraph, then the special lien may be foreclosed by publication of a HB1927 HFLR Page 29 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 legal notice in a legal news paper in the county where the personal property is located, as defined in Section 106 of Title 25 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Such notice shall include the description of the property by year, make , vehicle identification number if available from the proper ty, the name of the individual who may be contacted for information, and the telephone number of that person or the address where the vehicle is located. The legal notice shall be published once per week for three (3) consecutive weeks. As soon as circum stances exist as described in the first sentence of this subparagraph, the first date of publication may occur even if the special lien has not accrued for over thirty (30) days. The first date available for public sale of the vehicle is the day following publication of the final notice, but no fewer than thirty (30) days after the lien has accrued. When the owner of record is unknown, the Notice of Sale nevertheless must be completed and mailed to any known interested party by certified mail. For purposes of this paragraph, interested parties shall include all persons described in subparagraph b or subparagraph c of this paragraph, whichever is applicable, with the exception of any HB1927 HFLR Page 30 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 owner who is unknown. Except in circumstances described in paragraph 7 o f this subsection that provide for a shorter time period, the Notice of Sale shall be posted in two public places in the county where the property is to be sold at least ten (10) days before the time therein specified for such sale, and the Notice of Sale shall not be mailed until at least thirty (30) days after the lien has accrued. 5. The lienor or any other person may in good faith become a purchaser of the property sold. 6. Proceedings for fo reclosure under this act shall not be commenced until thirty (30) days after the lien has accrued, except as provided elsewhere in Oklahoma law. 7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, proceedings for foreclosures for the storage of junk vehicles t owed and stored pursuant to Section 955 of Title 47 of the O klahoma Statutes by Class AA wreckers listed with the Motor Vehicle Division of the Department of Public Safety, may be commenced five (5) days after the lien has accrued. For purposes of this pa ragraph, "junk vehicles" means any vehicle that is more than ten (10) years old if the cost of a comparable vehicle would be less than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) as quoted in the latest edition of the National Automobile Dealers Association Official U sed Car Guide or latest HB1927 HFLR Page 31 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 monthly edition of any other nationa lly recognized published guidebook, adjusting to the condition of the vehicle. B. 1. a. Any person who is induced by means of a check or other form of written order for immediate payment of money to deliver up possession of an article of personal property on which the person has a special lien created by subsection A of this section, which check or other written order is dishonored, or is not paid when presented, shall have a lien for the amount thereof upon the personal property. b. The person claiming suc h lien shall, within thirty (30) days from the date of dishonor of the check or other written order for payment of money, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is situated a sworn statement that: (1) the check or other written order for immediate payment of money, copy thereof being attached, was received for labor, material or supplies for producing or repairing an article of personal property, or for other spe cific property-related services covered by this section, (2) the check or other written order was not paid, and HB1927 HFLR Page 32 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (3) the uttering of the check or other written order constituted the means for inducing the person, one possessed of a special lien created by subsection A of this section upon the described article of personal property, to deliver up the article of personal property. 2. a. Any person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property by furnishing storage, rental space, material, labor, or skill for the protection, improvement, safekeepin g, towing, right to occupy space, storage, or carriage thereof shall have a special lien on such property pursuant to this section if such property is removed from the person 's possession, without such person's written consent or without payment for such s ervice. b. The person claiming such lien shall, within five (5) days of such nonauthorized removal, file in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the property is located, a sworn s tatement including: (1) that services were rendered on or in relation to the article of personal property by the person claiming such lien, HB1927 HFLR Page 33 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (2) that the property was in the possession of the person claiming the lien but such property was removed without his or her written consent, (3) an identifying description of the article of personal property on or in relation to which the service was rendered, and (4) that the debt for the services rendered on or in relation to the article of personal property was not paid. Provided, if the unpaid total amount of the debt for services rendered on or in relation to the article of personal property is unknown, an approximated amount of the debt due and owing shall be included in the sworn statement but such approximated debt may be amended within thirty (30) days of such filing t o reflect the actual amount of the debt due and owing. 3. The enforcement of the lien shall be within sixty (60) days after filing the lien in the manner provided by law for enforcing the lien of a security agreement and provided that the lien shall not affect the rights of innocent, intervening purchasers without notice. C. If the person who renders service to the owner of an article of personal property to which this section applies relinquishe s or HB1927 HFLR Page 34 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 loses possession of the article due to circumstances de scribed in subparagraph a of paragraph 1 or subparagraph a of paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section, the person claiming the lien shall be entitled to possession of the article until the amo unt due is paid, unless the article is possessed by a person who became a bona fide purchaser. Entitlement to possession shall be in accordance with the following: 1. The claimant may take possession of an article pursuant to this subsection only if the person obligated under the contract for services has signed an acknowledgment of receipt of a notice that the article may be subject to repossession. The notice and acknowledgment pursuant to this subsection shall be: a. in writing and separate from the w ritten contract for services, or b. printed on the written c ontract for services, credit agreement or other document which displays the notice in bold-faced, capitalized and underlined type, or is separated from surrounding written material so as to be conspicuous with a separate signature line; 2. The claimant may require the person obligated under the contract for services to pay the costs of repossession as a condition for reclaiming the article only to the extent of the reasonable fair market value of the services required to take possession of the article; HB1927 HFLR Page 35 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 3. The claimant shall not transfer to a third party or to a person who performs repossession services, a check, money order, or credit card transaction that is received as payment for services with respect to an article and that is returned to the claimant because of insufficient funds or no funds, because the person writing the check, issuing the money order, or credit cardholder has no account or because the check, money order, or credit card accou nt has been closed. A person violating this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; and 4. An article that is repossessed pursuant to this subsection shall be promptly delivered to the location where the services were performed. The article shall re main at the services location at all times until the article is lawfully returned to the record owner or a lienholder or is disposed of pursuant to this section. D. 1. This section applies if a vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, manufactured home, motorcycle, boat, outboard motor, or trailer has a certificate of title issued by the Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Oklahoma, but there is no active lien recorded on the certificate of title. 2. This section applies if a vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, motorcycle, boat, outboard m otor or trailer has a certificate of title issued by the Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Oklahoma, and there is an active lien HB1927 HFLR Page 36 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 recorded on the certificate of title, but the lien is over fifteen (15) years old. 3. This section applies if personal property to which Section 91 of this title otherwise would apply has been registered by the Tax Commission or by a federally recognized Indian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, an d there is a lien of record but no certificate of title has been issued. 4. This section applies if personal property to which Section 91 of this title otherwise would apply has not been registered by either the Tax Commission or a federally recognized In dian tribe in the State of Oklahoma, and no certificate of t itle has been issued, but there is a lien of record. 5. This section applies to personal property that otherwise would be covered by Section 91 of this title, except that the services were render ed or the property was abandoned prior to November 1, 2005. 6. This section applies to a vehicle, all -terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, manufactured home, motorcycle, boat, outboard motor, or trailer for which ownership cannot be determined by ordinary means or by the Oklahoma Tax Commission Motor Vehicle Division, as provided in subparagraphs d and e of paragraph 4 of subsection A of this section, as applicable. HB1927 HFLR Page 37 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 7. This section applies to items of personal property that are not required by Oklahoma law t o be titled, and that do not have a certificate of title. 8. This section applies to salvage pools as defined in Section 591.2 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes. 9. This section applies to class AA licensed wrecker services taking possession of a vehi cle pursuant to an agreement with, or at the direction of, or dispatched by a state or local law enforcement or government agency, or pursuant to the abandoned vehicle removal provisions of Section 954A of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes with respect to all types of personal property, regardless of whether that personal property has a certificate of title. 10. For a vehicle abandoned at a salvage pool, if the cost of repairing the vehicle for safe operation on the highway does not exceed sixty percent (6 0%) of the fair market value of the vehicle as defined in Section 1111 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, a salvage title shall not be required. E. A person who knowingly makes a false statement of a material fact regarding the furnishing of storage, r ental space, material, labor or skill for the protection, im provement, safekeeping, towing, right to occupy space, storage or carriage thereof in a proceeding under this section, or attempts to use or uses the provisions of this section to foreclose an own er or lienholder's interest in a HB1927 HFLR Page 38 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 vehicle knowing that any of the statements made in the proceeding are false, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a felony. F. Upon receipt of notice of legal proceedings, the Tax Commission shall cause the sale process to be put on hold until notice of resolution of court proceedin gs is received from the court. If such notice of commencement of court proceedings is not filed with the Tax Commission, the possessory lien sale process may continue. G. No possessory lien sale shall be held on a Sunday. H. For purposes of this section : 1. "Possession" includes actual possession and constructive possession; 2. "Constructive possession " means possession by a person who, although not in actual possession, does not have an inten tion to abandon property, knowingly has both power and the i ntention at a given time to exercise dominion or control over the property, and who holds claim to such thing by virtue of some legal right; 3. "Lawfully in possession " means a person has documen tation from the owner or the owner 's authorized agent, or an insurance company or its authorized agent, authorizing the furnishing of material, labor or storage, or that the property was authorized to be towed to a repair facility. Class AA wrecker service s taking possession of a vehicle pursuant to an agreement wi th, or at the direction of, or dispatched HB1927 HFLR Page 39 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 by, a state or local law enforcement or government agency, or pursuant to the abandoned vehicle removal provisions of Section 954A of Title 47 of the Okla homa Statutes, shall be considered lawfully in possession of the vehicle. If the person lacks such documentation, the procedures established by this section shall not apply; and 4. "Itemized charges" means total parts, total labor, total towing fees, total storage fees, total processing fees and totals of any other fee groups, the sum total of which shall equal the compensation claimed. I. For purposes of this section, the United States Postal Service approved electronic equivalent of proof of return rec eipt requested Form 3811 shall satisfy return receipt reques ted documentation requirements. J. If a person claiming a special lien pursuant to this section fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section, any interested party may proceed agai nst the person claiming such lien for all damages arising th erefrom, including conversion, if the article of personal property has been sold. If the notice or notices required by this section shall be shown to be knowingly false or fraudulent, the interes ted party shall be entitled to treble damages. The prevaili ng party shall be entitled to all costs, including reasonable attorney fees. HB1927 HFLR Page 40 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 K. Any interested party shall be permitted to visually inspect and verify the services rendered by the claimant prior to the sale of the article of property during normal busines s hours. If the claimant fails to allow any interested party to inspect the property, the interested party shall mail a request for inspection by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the claimant. Within three (3) business days of receipt of the request for inspection, the claimant shall mail a photograph of the property, by certified mail, return receipt requested, and a date of inspection within five (5) business days from the date of t he notice to inspect. The lienholder shall be allowed to re trieve the property without being required to bring the title into the lienholder 's name, if the lienholder provides proof it is a lienholder and any payment due the claimant for lawful charges wh ere the claimant has complied with this section. Upon the r elease of personal property to an insurer or representative of the insurer, wrecker operators shall be exempt from all liability and shall be held harmless for any losses or claims of loss. In th e event any law enforcement agency places a hold on the prop erty, the party wanting to inspect or photograph the property shall obtain permission from the law enforcement agency that placed the hold on the property before inspecting or photographing. L. This section shall apply to all actions or proceedings that commence on or after the effective date of this act. HB1927 HFLR Page 41 BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023 . COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY - CIVIL, dated 02/20/2023 - DO PASS.