Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1165 Compare Versions

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11 By: Carona S.B. No. 1165
22 (Truitt)
33
44
55 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
66 AN ACT
77 relating to certain enforcement powers of the banking commissioner;
88 providing administrative penalties.
99 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1010 SECTION 1. Section 35.003, Finance Code, is amended by
1111 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
1212 read as follows:
1313 (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or
1414 prohibit a present or former officer, director, or employee of a
1515 state bank from office or employment in, or prohibit a controlling
1616 shareholder or other person participating in the affairs of a state
1717 bank from further participation in the affairs of, a state bank or
1818 any other entity chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by
1919 the banking commissioner if the banking commissioner determines
2020 from examination or other credible evidence that:
2121 (1) the person:
2222 (A) intentionally committed or participated in
2323 the commission of an act described by Section 35.002(a) with regard
2424 to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by Section
2525 201.101 [the bank]; [or]
2626 (B) violated a final cease and desist order
2727 issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or
2828 an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or
2929 employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or
3030 (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in
3131 the records of a financial institution;
3232 (2) because of this action by the person:
3333 (A) the financial institution [bank] has
3434 suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or expense, or
3535 other damage;
3636 (B) the interests of the [bank's] depositors,
3737 creditors, or shareholders of the financial institution have been
3838 or could be prejudiced; or
3939 (C) the person has received financial gain or
4040 other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the
4141 action had not been discovered; and
4242 (3) the action:
4343 (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of
4444 the person; or
4545 (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard
4646 for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [bank].
4747 (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under
4848 Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order
4949 appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the bank
5050 involved and its depositors, creditors, or [and] shareholders, the
5151 banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal or prohibition
5252 order, as appropriate, on a person alleged to have committed or
5353 participated in the action. The proposed order must:
5454 (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered
5555 or certified mail, return receipt requested;
5656 (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for
5757 removal or prohibition; [and]
5858 (3) state the effective date of the order, which may
5959 not be before the 21st day after the date the proposed order is
6060 delivered or mailed; and
6161 (4) state the duration of the order, including whether
6262 the duration of the order is perpetual.
6363 (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or
6464 prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of
6565 time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the
6666 order.
6767 SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 35.005, Finance Code, is
6868 amended to read as follows:
6969 (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall
7070 notify the bank and any person against whom the emergency order is
7171 directed of:
7272 (1) the specific conduct requiring the order;
7373 (2) the citation of each law alleged to have been
7474 violated;
7575 (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be
7676 threatened; [and]
7777 (4) the duration of the order, including whether the
7878 duration of the order is perpetual; and
7979 (5) the right to a hearing.
8080 SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 35.007, Finance Code, is
8181 amended to read as follows:
8282 (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, without the prior
8383 written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a
8484 final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the
8585 banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign
8686 financial institution regulatory agency, may not:
8787 (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a
8888 state bank or [,] trust company, or as a director, officer, or
8989 employee with financial responsibility of any other entity
9090 chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking
9191 commissioner under the laws of this state[, including an interstate
9292 branch, trust office, or representative office in this state of an
9393 out-of-state state bank, trust company, or foreign bank];
9494 (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner
9595 in the management of such an entity;
9696 (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such
9797 an entity; or
9898 (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer,
9999 vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with
100100 respect to voting rights in such an entity.
101101 SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Finance Code, is
102102 amended by adding Section 35.0071 to read as follows:
103103 Sec. 35.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL OR
104104 PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from date
105105 of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or removal
106106 order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the order's
107107 stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the banking
108108 commissioner to be released from the order.
109109 (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form
110110 required by the banking commissioner. The application must be
111111 accompanied by any required fees.
112112 (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of
113113 discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this
114114 section.
115115 (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection
116116 (c) is final and not appealable.
117117 SECTION 5. Section 35.009, Finance Code, is amended to read
118118 as follows:
119119 Sec. 35.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER].
120120 (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a bank or
121121 other person has violated any of the following, the banking
122122 commissioner may take any action authorized under Subsection (a-1):
123123 (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle
124124 and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed
125125 the bank or the bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to
126126 harm;
127127 (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result
128128 of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the bank or the
129129 bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to harm; or
130130 (3) a final order issued by the banking commissioner.
131131 (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist,
132132 removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the]
133133 banking commissioner may:
134134 (1) initiate an administrative penalty proceeding
135135 against the bank or other person, in accordance with Sections
136136 [under Section] 35.010 and 35.011;
137137 (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for
138138 enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or
139139 (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner
140140 considers appropriate under applicable law.
141141 (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought
142142 under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is
143143 entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or
144144 person committing the violation [violating the order].
145145 SECTION 6. Section 35.010, Finance Code, is amended to read
146146 as follows:
147147 Sec. 35.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking
148148 commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative
149149 penalty against a bank or other person by serving on the bank or
150150 other person, as applicable, notice of the time and place of a
151151 hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not be held earlier than
152152 the 20th day after the date the notice is served. The notice must:
153153 (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or
154154 certified mail, return receipt requested; [and]
155155 (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to
156156 constitute a violation; and
157157 (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section
158158 35.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the bank or
159159 other person must take to avoid or reduce the amount of a penalty
160160 that would otherwise be imposed under this section [violate the
161161 order].
162162 (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed
163163 [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner
164164 shall consider the following factors:
165165 (1) the financial resources of the bank or other
166166 person;
167167 (2) the good faith of the bank or other person,
168168 including any corrective action taken;
169169 (3) the gravity of the violation;
170170 (4) the history of previous violations;
171171 (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the
172172 amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for
173173 the same conduct; and
174174 (6) any other matter that justice may require
175175 [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance
176176 with the order].
177177 (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the
178178 hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct
179179 constitutes a violation [order has been violated], the banking
180180 commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a [the]
181181 bank or other person, as applicable, in an amount:
182182 (1) if imposed against a bank, not less than $500 and
183183 not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day the violation
184184 continues, except that the maximum administrative penalty that may
185185 be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent of the bank's
186186 assets; or
187187 (2) if imposed against a person other than a bank, not
188188 less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each violation for each
189189 day the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative
190190 penalty that may be imposed is $250,000 [not to exceed $500 for each
191191 day the bank violates the final order].
192192 SECTION 7. Section 35.011, Finance Code, is amended to read
193193 as follows:
194194 Sec. 35.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.
195195 (a) When a penalty order under Section 35.010 becomes final, the
196196 bank or other person, as applicable, shall pay the penalty or appeal
197197 by filing a petition for judicial review.
198198 (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order
199199 during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court
200200 sustains the order, the court shall order the bank or other person,
201201 as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty or a lower
202202 amount determined by the court. If the court does not sustain the
203203 order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of the court
204204 requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the penalty, at
205205 the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by the Federal
206206 Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the date the judgment is
207207 final and ending on the date the penalty and interest are paid.
208208 (c) If the bank or other person, as applicable, does not pay
209209 the penalty imposed under a final and nonappealable penalty order,
210210 the banking commissioner shall refer the matter to the attorney
211211 general for enforcement. The attorney general is entitled to
212212 recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or other person,
213213 as applicable, if the attorney general prevails in judicial action
214214 necessary for collection of the penalty.
215215 SECTION 8. Section 35.012, Finance Code, is amended to read
216216 as follows:
217217 Sec. 35.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a
218218 notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in
219219 the records of the department relating to an order issued under this
220220 subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by
221221 Subchapter D, Chapter 31, except that the banking commissioner
222222 periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition
223223 orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and
224224 desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or
225225 information regarding the existence of any of those orders [the
226226 order] to the public if the banking commissioner concludes that the
227227 release would enhance effective enforcement of the order.
228228 SECTION 9. Section 185.003, Finance Code, is amended by
229229 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
230230 read as follows:
231231 (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or
232232 prohibit a present or former officer, director, manager, managing
233233 participant, or employee of a state trust company from office or
234234 employment in, or [to] prohibit a controlling shareholder or
235235 participant or other person from participation in the affairs of,
236236 the state trust company or any other entity chartered, registered,
237237 permitted, or licensed by the banking commissioner if the banking
238238 commissioner determines from examination or other credible
239239 evidence that:
240240 (1) the person:
241241 (A) intentionally committed or participated in
242242 the commission of an act described by Section 185.002(a) with
243243 regard to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by
244244 Section 201.101 [the state trust company]; [or]
245245 (B) violated a final cease and desist order
246246 issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or
247247 an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or
248248 employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or
249249 (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in
250250 the records of a financial institution;
251251 (2) because of this [that] action by the person:
252252 (A) the financial institution [state trust
253253 company] has suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or
254254 expense, or other damage;
255255 (B) the interests of the [trust company's]
256256 clients, depositors, creditors, or shareholders of the financial
257257 institution have been or could be prejudiced; or
258258 (C) the person has received financial gain or
259259 other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the
260260 action had not been discovered [violation]; and
261261 (3) that action by the person:
262262 (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of
263263 the person; or
264264 (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard
265265 for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [state
266266 trust company].
267267 (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under
268268 Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order
269269 appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the state trust
270270 company involved and its clients, creditors, [and] shareholders, or
271271 participants, the banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal
272272 or prohibition order, as appropriate, on an officer, employee,
273273 director, manager or managing participant, controlling shareholder
274274 or participant, or other person alleged to have committed or
275275 participated in the violation or other conduct described by Section
276276 185.002(a). The order must:
277277 (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered
278278 or certified mail, return receipt requested;
279279 (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for
280280 removal or prohibition; [and]
281281 (3) state the effective date of the order, which may
282282 not be before [earlier than] the 21st day after the date the
283283 proposed order is delivered or mailed; and
284284 (4) state the duration of the order, including whether
285285 the duration of the order is perpetual [or delivered].
286286 (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or
287287 prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of
288288 time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the
289289 order.
290290 SECTION 10. Subsection (b), Section 185.005, Finance Code,
291291 is amended to read as follows:
292292 (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall
293293 notify the state trust company and any person against whom the
294294 emergency order is directed of:
295295 (1) the specific conduct requiring the order;
296296 (2) the citation of each statute or rule alleged to
297297 have been violated;
298298 (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be
299299 threatened; [and]
300300 (4) the duration of the order, including whether the
301301 duration of the order is perpetual; and
302302 (5) the right to a hearing.
303303 SECTION 11. Subsection (a), Section 185.007, Finance Code,
304304 is amended to read as follows:
305305 (a) Except as provided by other law, without the prior
306306 written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a
307307 final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the
308308 banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign
309309 financial institution regulatory agency, may not:
310310 (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a
311311 state trust company or [,] state bank, or as a director, officer, or
312312 employee with financial responsibility of any other entity
313313 chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking
314314 commissioner under the laws of this state while the order is in
315315 effect[, including an interstate branch, trust office, or
316316 representative office in this state of an out-of-state bank, trust
317317 company, or foreign bank];
318318 (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner
319319 in the management of such an entity;
320320 (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such
321321 an entity; or
322322 (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer,
323323 vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with
324324 respect to voting rights in such an entity.
325325 SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 185, Finance Code, is
326326 amended by adding Section 185.0071 to read as follows:
327327 Sec. 185.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL
328328 OR PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from
329329 the date of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or
330330 removal order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the
331331 order's stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the
332332 banking commissioner to be released from the order.
333333 (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form
334334 required by the banking commissioner. The application must be
335335 accompanied by any required fees.
336336 (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of
337337 discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this
338338 section.
339339 (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection
340340 (c) is final and not appealable.
341341 SECTION 13. Section 185.009, Finance Code, is amended to
342342 read as follows:
343343 Sec. 185.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER].
344344 (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a state
345345 trust company or other person has violated any of the following, the
346346 banking commissioner may take any action authorized under
347347 Subsection (a-1):
348348 (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle
349349 and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed
350350 the state trust company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or
351351 participants to harm;
352352 (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result
353353 of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the state trust
354354 company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or participants to
355355 harm; or
356356 (3) a final order issued by the banking commissioner.
357357 (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist,
358358 removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the]
359359 banking commissioner may:
360360 (1) initiate administrative penalty proceedings
361361 against the state trust company or other person, as applicable, in
362362 accordance with Sections [under Section] 185.010 and 185.011;
363363 (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for
364364 enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or
365365 (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner
366366 considers appropriate under applicable law.
367367 (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought
368368 under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is
369369 entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from a state trust
370370 company or person committing the violation [violating the order].
371371 SECTION 14. Section 185.010, Finance Code, is amended to
372372 read as follows:
373373 Sec. 185.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking
374374 commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative
375375 penalty against a state trust company or other person by serving on
376376 the state trust company or other person, as applicable, notice of
377377 the time and place of a hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not
378378 be held earlier than the 20th day after the date the notice is
379379 served. The notice must:
380380 (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or
381381 certified mail, return receipt requested; [and]
382382 (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to
383383 constitute a [be in] violation; and
384384 (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section
385385 185.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the state
386386 trust company or other person must take to avoid or reduce the
387387 amount of a penalty that would otherwise be imposed under this
388388 section [of the order].
389389 (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed
390390 [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner
391391 shall consider the following factors:
392392 (1) the financial resources of the state trust company
393393 or other person;
394394 (2) the good faith of the state trust company or other
395395 person, including any corrective action taken;
396396 (3) the gravity of the violation;
397397 (4) the history of previous violations;
398398 (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the
399399 amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for
400400 the same conduct; and
401401 (6) any other matter that justice may require
402402 [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance
403403 with the order].
404404 (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the
405405 hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct
406406 constitutes a violation [an order has been violated], the banking
407407 commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a state
408408 trust company or other person, as applicable, in an amount:
409409 (1) if imposed against a state trust company, not less
410410 than $500 and not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day
411411 the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative
412412 penalty that may be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent
413413 of the state trust company's assets; or
414414 (2) if imposed against a person other than a state
415415 trust company, not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each
416416 violation for each day the violation continues, except that the
417417 maximum administrative penalty that may be imposed is $250,000 [not
418418 to exceed $500 for each day the state trust company violates the
419419 final order].
420420 SECTION 15. Section 185.011, Finance Code, is amended to
421421 read as follows:
422422 Sec. 185.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.
423423 (a) When a penalty order under Section 185.010 becomes final, a
424424 state trust company or other person, as applicable, shall pay the
425425 penalty or appeal by filing a petition for judicial review.
426426 (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order
427427 during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court
428428 sustains the order, the court shall order the state trust company or
429429 other person, as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty
430430 or a lower amount determined by the court. If the court does not
431431 sustain the order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of
432432 the court requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the
433433 penalty, at the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by
434434 the [New York] Federal Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the
435435 date the judgment is final and ending on the date the penalty and
436436 interest are paid.
437437 (c) If the state trust company or other person, as
438438 applicable, does not pay the penalty imposed under a final and
439439 nonappealable penalty order, the banking commissioner shall refer
440440 the matter to the attorney general for enforcement. The attorney
441441 general is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the
442442 state trust company or other person, as applicable, if the attorney
443443 general prevails in judicial action necessary for collection of the
444444 penalty.
445445 SECTION 16. Section 185.012, Finance Code, is amended to
446446 read as follows:
447447 Sec. 185.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a
448448 notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in
449449 the records of the department relating to an order issued under this
450450 subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by
451451 Subchapter D, Chapter 181, except that the banking commissioner
452452 periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition
453453 orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and
454454 desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or
455455 information regarding [relating to] the existence of any of those
456456 orders [the order] to the public if the banking commissioner
457457 concludes that the release would enhance effective enforcement of
458458 the order.
459459 SECTION 17. Subsection (a), Section 202.005, Finance Code,
460460 is amended to read as follows:
461461 (a) The commissioner may:
462462 (1) examine a bank holding company that controls a
463463 Texas bank to the same extent as if the bank holding company were a
464464 Texas state bank; and
465465 (2) bring an enforcement proceeding under Chapter 35
466466 against a bank holding company or other person that violates or
467467 participates in a violation of Subtitle A, an agreement filed with
468468 the commissioner under this chapter, or a rule adopted by the
469469 finance commission or order issued by the commissioner under
470470 Subtitle A, as if the bank holding company were a Texas state bank.
471471 SECTION 18. The changes in law made by this Act apply only
472472 to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act.
473473 Conduct occurring before the effective date of this Act is governed
474474 by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the
475475 former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
476476 SECTION 19. This Act takes effect immediately if it
477477 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
478478 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
479479 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
480480 effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011.