Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas House Bill HB2282 Compare Versions

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11 82R14635 KFF-F
22 By: Truitt H.B. No. 2282
33 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2282:
44 By: Truitt C.S.H.B. No. 2282
55
66
77 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
88 AN ACT
99 relating to certain enforcement powers of the banking commissioner;
1010 providing administrative penalties.
1111 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1212 SECTION 1. Section 35.003, Finance Code, is amended by
1313 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
1414 read as follows:
1515 (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or
1616 prohibit a present or former officer, director, or employee of a
1717 state bank from office or employment in, or prohibit a controlling
1818 shareholder or other person participating in the affairs of a state
1919 bank from further participation in the affairs of, a state bank or
2020 any other entity chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by
2121 the banking commissioner if the banking commissioner determines
2222 from examination or other credible evidence that:
2323 (1) the person:
2424 (A) intentionally committed or participated in
2525 the commission of an act described by Section 35.002(a) with regard
2626 to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by Section
2727 201.101 [the bank]; [or]
2828 (B) violated a final cease and desist order
2929 issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or
3030 an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or
3131 employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or
3232 (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in
3333 the records of a financial institution;
3434 (2) because of this action by the person:
3535 (A) the financial institution [bank] has
3636 suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or expense, or
3737 other damage;
3838 (B) the interests of the [bank's] depositors,
3939 creditors, or shareholders of the financial institution have been
4040 or could be prejudiced; or
4141 (C) the person has received financial gain or
4242 other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the
4343 action had not been discovered; and
4444 (3) the action:
4545 (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of
4646 the person; or
4747 (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard
4848 for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [bank].
4949 (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under
5050 Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order
5151 appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the bank
5252 involved and its depositors, creditors, or [and] shareholders, the
5353 banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal or prohibition
5454 order, as appropriate, on a person alleged to have committed or
5555 participated in the action. The proposed order must:
5656 (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered
5757 or certified mail, return receipt requested;
5858 (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for
5959 removal or prohibition; [and]
6060 (3) state the effective date of the order, which may
6161 not be before the 21st day after the date the proposed order is
6262 delivered or mailed; and
6363 (4) state the duration of the order, including whether
6464 the duration of the order is perpetual.
6565 (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or
6666 prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of
6767 time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the
6868 order.
6969 SECTION 2. Section 35.005(b), Finance Code, is amended to
7070 read as follows:
7171 (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall
7272 notify the bank and any person against whom the emergency order is
7373 directed of:
7474 (1) the specific conduct requiring the order;
7575 (2) the citation of each law alleged to have been
7676 violated;
7777 (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be
7878 threatened; [and]
7979 (4) the duration of the order, including whether the
8080 duration of the order is perpetual; and
8181 (5) the right to a hearing.
8282 SECTION 3. Section 35.007(a), Finance Code, is amended to
8383 read as follows:
8484 (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, without the prior
8585 written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a
8686 final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the
8787 banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign
8888 financial institution regulatory agency, may not:
8989 (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a
9090 state bank or [,] trust company, or as a director, officer, or
9191 employee with financial responsibility of any other entity
9292 chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking
9393 commissioner under the laws of this state[, including an interstate
9494 branch, trust office, or representative office in this state of an
9595 out-of-state state bank, trust company, or foreign bank];
9696 (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner
9797 in the management of such an entity;
9898 (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such
9999 an entity; or
100100 (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer,
101101 vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with
102102 respect to voting rights in such an entity.
103103 SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Finance Code, is
104104 amended by adding Section 35.0071 to read as follows:
105105 Sec. 35.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL OR
106106 PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from date
107107 of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or removal
108108 order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the order's
109109 stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the banking
110110 commissioner to be released from the order.
111111 (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form
112112 required by the banking commissioner. The application must be
113113 accompanied by any required fees.
114114 (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of
115115 discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this
116116 section.
117117 (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection
118118 (c) is final and not appealable.
119119 SECTION 5. Section 35.009, Finance Code, is amended to read
120120 as follows:
121121 Sec. 35.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER].
122122 (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a bank or
123123 other person has violated any of the following, the commissioner
124124 may take any action authorized under Subsection (a-1):
125125 (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle
126126 and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed
127127 the bank or the bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to
128128 harm;
129129 (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result
130130 of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the bank or the
131131 bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to harm; or
132132 (3) a final order issued by the commissioner.
133133 (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist,
134134 removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the]
135135 banking commissioner may:
136136 (1) initiate an administrative penalty proceeding
137137 against the bank or other person, in accordance with Sections
138138 [under Section] 35.010 and 35.011;
139139 (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for
140140 enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or
141141 (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner
142142 considers appropriate under applicable law.
143143 (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought
144144 under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is
145145 entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or
146146 person committing the violation [violating the order].
147147 SECTION 6. Section 35.010, Finance Code, is amended to read
148148 as follows:
149149 Sec. 35.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking
150150 commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative
151151 penalty against a bank or other person by serving on the bank or
152152 other person, as applicable, notice of the time and place of a
153153 hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not be held earlier than
154154 the 20th day after the date the notice is served. The notice must:
155155 (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or
156156 certified mail, return receipt requested; [and]
157157 (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to
158158 constitute a violation; and
159159 (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section
160160 35.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the bank or
161161 other person must take to avoid or reduce the amount of a penalty
162162 that would otherwise be imposed under this section [violate the
163163 order].
164164 (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed
165165 [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner
166166 shall consider the following factors:
167167 (1) the financial resources of the bank or other
168168 person;
169169 (2) the good faith of the bank or other person,
170170 including any corrective action taken;
171171 (3) the gravity of the violation;
172172 (4) the history of previous violations;
173173 (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the
174174 amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for
175175 the same conduct; and
176176 (6) any other matter that justice may require
177177 [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance
178178 with the order].
179179 (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the
180180 hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct
181181 constitutes a violation [order has been violated], the banking
182182 commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a [the]
183183 bank or other person, as applicable, in an amount not to exceed:
184184 (1) if imposed against a bank, not less than $500 and
185185 not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day the violation
186186 continues, except that the maximum administrative penalty that may
187187 be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent of the bank's
188188 assets; or
189189 (2) if imposed against a person other than a bank, not
190190 less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each violation for each
191191 day the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative
192192 penalty that may be imposed is $250,000 [$500 for each day the bank
193193 violates the final order].
194194 SECTION 7. Section 35.011, Finance Code, is amended to read
195195 as follows:
196196 Sec. 35.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.
197197 (a) When a penalty order under Section 35.010 becomes final, the
198198 bank or other person, as applicable, shall pay the penalty or appeal
199199 by filing a petition for judicial review.
200200 (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order
201201 during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court
202202 sustains the order, the court shall order the bank or other person,
203203 as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty or a lower
204204 amount determined by the court. If the court does not sustain the
205205 order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of the court
206206 requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the penalty, at
207207 the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by the Federal
208208 Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the date the judgment is
209209 final and ending on the date the penalty and interest are paid.
210210 (c) If the bank or other person, as applicable, does not pay
211211 the penalty imposed under a final and nonappealable penalty order,
212212 the banking commissioner shall refer the matter to the attorney
213213 general for enforcement. The attorney general is entitled to
214214 recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or other person,
215215 as applicable, if the attorney general prevails in judicial action
216216 necessary for collection of the penalty.
217217 SECTION 8. Section 35.012, Finance Code, is amended to read
218218 as follows:
219219 Sec. 35.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a
220220 notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in
221221 the records of the department relating to an order issued under this
222222 subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by
223223 Subchapter D, Chapter 31, except that the banking commissioner
224224 periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition
225225 orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and
226226 desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or
227227 information regarding the existence of any of those orders [the
228228 order] to the public if the banking commissioner concludes that the
229229 release would enhance effective enforcement of the order.
230230 SECTION 9. Section 185.003, Finance Code, is amended by
231231 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
232232 read as follows:
233233 (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or
234234 prohibit a present or former officer, director, manager, managing
235235 participant, or employee of a state trust company from office or
236236 employment in, or [to] prohibit a controlling shareholder or
237237 participant or other person from participation in the affairs of,
238238 the state trust company or any other entity chartered, registered,
239239 permitted, or licensed by the banking commissioner if the banking
240240 commissioner determines from examination or other credible
241241 evidence that:
242242 (1) the person:
243243 (A) intentionally committed or participated in
244244 the commission of an act described by Section 185.002(a) with
245245 regard to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by
246246 Section 201.101 [the state trust company]; [or]
247247 (B) violated a final cease and desist order
248248 issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or
249249 an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or
250250 employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or
251251 (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in
252252 the records of a financial institution;
253253 (2) because of this [that] action by the person:
254254 (A) the financial institution [state trust
255255 company] has suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or
256256 expense, or other damage;
257257 (B) the interests of the [trust company's]
258258 clients, depositors, creditors, or shareholders of the financial
259259 institution have been or could be prejudiced; or
260260 (C) the person has received financial gain or
261261 other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the
262262 action had not been discovered [violation]; and
263263 (3) that action by the person:
264264 (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of
265265 the person; or
266266 (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard
267267 for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [state
268268 trust company].
269269 (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under
270270 Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order
271271 appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the state trust
272272 company involved and its clients, creditors, [and] shareholders, or
273273 participants, the banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal
274274 or prohibition order, as appropriate, on an officer, employee,
275275 director, manager or managing participant, controlling shareholder
276276 or participant, or other person alleged to have committed or
277277 participated in the violation or other conduct described by Section
278278 185.002(a). The order must:
279279 (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered
280280 or certified mail, return receipt requested;
281281 (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for
282282 removal or prohibition; [and]
283283 (3) state the effective date of the order, which may
284284 not be before [earlier than] the 21st day after the date the
285285 proposed order is delivered or mailed; and
286286 (4) state the duration of the order, including whether
287287 the duration of the order is perpetual [or delivered].
288288 (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or
289289 prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of
290290 time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the
291291 order.
292292 SECTION 10. Section 185.005(b), Finance Code, is amended to
293293 read as follows:
294294 (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall
295295 notify the state trust company and any person against whom the
296296 emergency order is directed of:
297297 (1) the specific conduct requiring the order;
298298 (2) the citation of each statute or rule alleged to
299299 have been violated;
300300 (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be
301301 threatened; [and]
302302 (4) the duration of the order, including whether the
303303 duration of the order is perpetual; and
304304 (5) the right to a hearing.
305305 SECTION 11. Section 185.007(a), Finance Code, is amended to
306306 read as follows:
307307 (a) Except as provided by other law, without the prior
308308 written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a
309309 final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the
310310 banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign
311311 financial institution regulatory agency, may not:
312312 (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a
313313 state trust company or [,] state bank, or as a director, officer, or
314314 employee with financial responsibility of any other entity
315315 chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking
316316 commissioner under the laws of this state while the order is in
317317 effect[, including an interstate branch, trust office, or
318318 representative office in this state of an out-of-state bank, trust
319319 company, or foreign bank];
320320 (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner
321321 in the management of such an entity;
322322 (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such
323323 an entity; or
324324 (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer,
325325 vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with
326326 respect to voting rights in such an entity.
327327 SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 185, Finance Code, is
328328 amended by adding Section 185.0071 to read as follows:
329329 Sec. 185.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL
330330 OR PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from
331331 date of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or
332332 removal order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the
333333 order's stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the
334334 banking commissioner to be released from the order.
335335 (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form
336336 required by the banking commissioner. The application must be
337337 accompanied by any required fees.
338338 (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of
339339 discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this
340340 section.
341341 (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection
342342 (c) is final and not appealable.
343343 SECTION 13. Section 185.009, Finance Code, is amended to
344344 read as follows:
345345 Sec. 185.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER].
346346 (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a state
347347 trust company or other person has violated any of the following, the
348348 commissioner may take any action authorized under Subsection (a-1):
349349 (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle
350350 and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed
351351 the state trust company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or
352352 participants to harm;
353353 (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result
354354 of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the state trust
355355 company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or participants to
356356 harm; or
357357 (3) a final order issued by the commissioner.
358358 (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist,
359359 removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the]
360360 banking commissioner may:
361361 (1) initiate administrative penalty proceedings
362362 against the state trust company or other person, as applicable, in
363363 accordance with Sections [under Section] 185.010 and 185.011;
364364 (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for
365365 enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or
366366 (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner
367367 considers appropriate under applicable law.
368368 (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought
369369 under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is
370370 entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from a state trust
371371 company or person committing the violation [violating the order].
372372 SECTION 14. Section 185.010, Finance Code, is amended to
373373 read as follows:
374374 Sec. 185.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking
375375 commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative
376376 penalty against a state trust company or other person by serving on
377377 the state trust company or other person, as applicable, notice of
378378 the time and place of a hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not
379379 be held earlier than the 20th day after the date the notice is
380380 served. The notice must:
381381 (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or
382382 certified mail, return receipt requested; [and]
383383 (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to
384384 constitute a [be in] violation; and
385385 (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section
386386 185.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the state
387387 trust company or other person must take to avoid or reduce the
388388 amount of a penalty that would otherwise be imposed under this
389389 section [of the order].
390390 (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed
391391 [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner
392392 shall consider the following factors:
393393 (1) the financial resources of the state trust company
394394 or other person;
395395 (2) the good faith of the state trust company or other
396396 person, including any corrective action taken;
397397 (3) the gravity of the violation;
398398 (4) the history of previous violations;
399399 (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the
400400 amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for
401401 the same conduct; and
402402 (6) any other matter that justice may require
403403 [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance
404404 with the order].
405405 (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the
406406 hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct
407407 constitutes a violation [an order has been violated], the banking
408408 commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a state
409409 trust company or other person, as applicable, in an amount not to
410410 exceed:
411411 (1) if imposed against a state trust company, not less
412412 than $500 and not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day
413413 the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative
414414 penalty that may be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent
415415 of the state trust company's assets; or
416416 (2) if imposed against a person other than a state
417417 trust company, not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each
418418 violation for each day the violation continues, except that the
419419 maximum administrative penalty that may be imposed is $250,000
420420 [$500 for each day the state trust company violates the final
421421 order].
422422 SECTION 15. Section 185.011, Finance Code, is amended to
423423 read as follows:
424424 Sec. 185.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.
425425 (a) When a penalty order under Section 185.010 becomes final, a
426426 state trust company or other person, as applicable, shall pay the
427427 penalty or appeal by filing a petition for judicial review.
428428 (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order
429429 during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court
430430 sustains the order, the court shall order the state trust company or
431431 other person, as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty
432432 or a lower amount determined by the court. If the court does not
433433 sustain the order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of
434434 the court requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the
435435 penalty, at the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by
436436 the [New York] Federal Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the
437437 date the judgment is final and ending on the date the penalty and
438438 interest are paid.
439439 (c) If the state trust company or other person, as
440440 applicable, does not pay the penalty imposed under a final and
441441 nonappealable penalty order, the banking commissioner shall refer
442442 the matter to the attorney general for enforcement. The attorney
443443 general is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the
444444 state trust company or other person, as applicable, if the attorney
445445 general prevails in judicial action necessary for collection of the
446446 penalty.
447447 SECTION 16. Section 185.012, Finance Code, is amended to
448448 read as follows:
449449 Sec. 185.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a
450450 notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in
451451 the records of the department relating to an order issued under this
452452 subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by
453453 Subchapter D, Chapter 181, except that the banking commissioner
454454 periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition
455455 orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and
456456 desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or
457457 information regarding [relating to] the existence of any of those
458458 orders [the order] to the public if the banking commissioner
459459 concludes that the release would enhance effective enforcement of
460460 the order.
461461 SECTION 17. Section 202.005(a), Finance Code, is amended to
462462 read as follows:
463463 (a) The commissioner may:
464464 (1) examine a bank holding company that controls a
465465 Texas bank to the same extent as if the bank holding company were a
466466 Texas state bank; and
467467 (2) bring an enforcement proceeding under Chapter 35
468468 against a bank holding company or other person that violates or
469469 participates in a violation of Subtitle A, an agreement filed with
470470 the commissioner under this chapter, or a rule adopted by the
471471 finance commission or order issued by the commissioner under
472472 Subtitle A, as if the bank holding company were a Texas state bank.
473473 SECTION 18. The changes in law made by this Act apply only
474474 to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.
475475 Conduct occurring before the effective date of this Act is governed
476476 by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the
477477 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
478478 SECTION 19. This Act takes effect immediately if it
479479 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
480480 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
481481 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
482482 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.