1 | 1 | | By: Carona S.B. No. 1165 |
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2 | 2 | | (Truitt) |
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3 | 3 | | |
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4 | 4 | | |
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5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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7 | 7 | | relating to certain enforcement powers of the banking commissioner; |
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8 | 8 | | providing administrative penalties. |
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9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 35.003, Finance Code, is amended by |
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11 | 11 | | amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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12 | 12 | | read as follows: |
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13 | 13 | | (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or |
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14 | 14 | | prohibit a present or former officer, director, or employee of a |
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15 | 15 | | state bank from office or employment in, or prohibit a controlling |
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16 | 16 | | shareholder or other person participating in the affairs of a state |
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17 | 17 | | bank from further participation in the affairs of, a state bank or |
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18 | 18 | | any other entity chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by |
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19 | 19 | | the banking commissioner if the banking commissioner determines |
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20 | 20 | | from examination or other credible evidence that: |
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21 | 21 | | (1) the person: |
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22 | 22 | | (A) intentionally committed or participated in |
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23 | 23 | | the commission of an act described by Section 35.002(a) with regard |
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24 | 24 | | to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by Section |
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25 | 25 | | 201.101 [the bank]; [or] |
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26 | 26 | | (B) violated a final cease and desist order |
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27 | 27 | | issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or |
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28 | 28 | | an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or |
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29 | 29 | | employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or |
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30 | 30 | | (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in |
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31 | 31 | | the records of a financial institution; |
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32 | 32 | | (2) because of this action by the person: |
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33 | 33 | | (A) the financial institution [bank] has |
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34 | 34 | | suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or expense, or |
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35 | 35 | | other damage; |
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36 | 36 | | (B) the interests of the [bank's] depositors, |
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37 | 37 | | creditors, or shareholders of the financial institution have been |
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38 | 38 | | or could be prejudiced; or |
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39 | 39 | | (C) the person has received financial gain or |
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40 | 40 | | other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the |
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41 | 41 | | action had not been discovered; and |
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42 | 42 | | (3) the action: |
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43 | 43 | | (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of |
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44 | 44 | | the person; or |
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45 | 45 | | (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard |
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46 | 46 | | for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [bank]. |
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47 | 47 | | (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under |
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48 | 48 | | Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order |
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49 | 49 | | appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the bank |
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50 | 50 | | involved and its depositors, creditors, or [and] shareholders, the |
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51 | 51 | | banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal or prohibition |
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52 | 52 | | order, as appropriate, on a person alleged to have committed or |
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53 | 53 | | participated in the action. The proposed order must: |
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54 | 54 | | (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered |
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55 | 55 | | or certified mail, return receipt requested; |
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56 | 56 | | (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for |
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57 | 57 | | removal or prohibition; [and] |
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58 | 58 | | (3) state the effective date of the order, which may |
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59 | 59 | | not be before the 21st day after the date the proposed order is |
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60 | 60 | | delivered or mailed; and |
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61 | 61 | | (4) state the duration of the order, including whether |
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62 | 62 | | the duration of the order is perpetual. |
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63 | 63 | | (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or |
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64 | 64 | | prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of |
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65 | 65 | | time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the |
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66 | 66 | | order. |
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67 | 67 | | SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 35.005, Finance Code, is |
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68 | 68 | | amended to read as follows: |
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69 | 69 | | (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall |
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70 | 70 | | notify the bank and any person against whom the emergency order is |
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71 | 71 | | directed of: |
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72 | 72 | | (1) the specific conduct requiring the order; |
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73 | 73 | | (2) the citation of each law alleged to have been |
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74 | 74 | | violated; |
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75 | 75 | | (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be |
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76 | 76 | | threatened; [and] |
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77 | 77 | | (4) the duration of the order, including whether the |
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78 | 78 | | duration of the order is perpetual; and |
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79 | 79 | | (5) the right to a hearing. |
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80 | 80 | | SECTION 3. Subsection (a), Section 35.007, Finance Code, is |
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81 | 81 | | amended to read as follows: |
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82 | 82 | | (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, without the prior |
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83 | 83 | | written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a |
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84 | 84 | | final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the |
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85 | 85 | | banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign |
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86 | 86 | | financial institution regulatory agency, may not: |
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87 | 87 | | (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a |
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88 | 88 | | state bank or [,] trust company, or as a director, officer, or |
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89 | 89 | | employee with financial responsibility of any other entity |
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90 | 90 | | chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking |
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91 | 91 | | commissioner under the laws of this state[, including an interstate |
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92 | 92 | | branch, trust office, or representative office in this state of an |
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93 | 93 | | out-of-state state bank, trust company, or foreign bank]; |
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94 | 94 | | (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner |
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95 | 95 | | in the management of such an entity; |
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96 | 96 | | (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such |
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97 | 97 | | an entity; or |
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98 | 98 | | (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer, |
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99 | 99 | | vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with |
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100 | 100 | | respect to voting rights in such an entity. |
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101 | 101 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 35, Finance Code, is |
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102 | 102 | | amended by adding Section 35.0071 to read as follows: |
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103 | 103 | | Sec. 35.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL OR |
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104 | 104 | | PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from date |
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105 | 105 | | of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or removal |
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106 | 106 | | order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the order's |
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107 | 107 | | stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the banking |
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108 | 108 | | commissioner to be released from the order. |
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109 | 109 | | (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form |
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110 | 110 | | required by the banking commissioner. The application must be |
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111 | 111 | | accompanied by any required fees. |
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112 | 112 | | (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of |
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113 | 113 | | discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this |
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114 | 114 | | section. |
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115 | 115 | | (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection |
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116 | 116 | | (c) is final and not appealable. |
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117 | 117 | | SECTION 5. Section 35.009, Finance Code, is amended to read |
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118 | 118 | | as follows: |
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119 | 119 | | Sec. 35.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER]. |
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120 | 120 | | (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a bank or |
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121 | 121 | | other person has violated any of the following, the banking |
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122 | 122 | | commissioner may take any action authorized under Subsection (a-1): |
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123 | 123 | | (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle |
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124 | 124 | | and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed |
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125 | 125 | | the bank or the bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to |
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126 | 126 | | harm; |
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127 | 127 | | (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result |
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128 | 128 | | of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the bank or the |
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129 | 129 | | bank's depositors, creditors, or shareholders to harm; or |
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130 | 130 | | (3) a final order issued by the banking commissioner. |
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131 | 131 | | (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist, |
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132 | 132 | | removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the] |
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133 | 133 | | banking commissioner may: |
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134 | 134 | | (1) initiate an administrative penalty proceeding |
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135 | 135 | | against the bank or other person, in accordance with Sections |
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136 | 136 | | [under Section] 35.010 and 35.011; |
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137 | 137 | | (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for |
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138 | 138 | | enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or |
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139 | 139 | | (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner |
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140 | 140 | | considers appropriate under applicable law. |
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141 | 141 | | (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought |
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142 | 142 | | under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is |
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143 | 143 | | entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or |
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144 | 144 | | person committing the violation [violating the order]. |
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145 | 145 | | SECTION 6. Section 35.010, Finance Code, is amended to read |
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146 | 146 | | as follows: |
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147 | 147 | | Sec. 35.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking |
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148 | 148 | | commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative |
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149 | 149 | | penalty against a bank or other person by serving on the bank or |
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150 | 150 | | other person, as applicable, notice of the time and place of a |
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151 | 151 | | hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not be held earlier than |
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152 | 152 | | the 20th day after the date the notice is served. The notice must: |
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153 | 153 | | (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or |
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154 | 154 | | certified mail, return receipt requested; [and] |
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155 | 155 | | (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to |
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156 | 156 | | constitute a violation; and |
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157 | 157 | | (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section |
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158 | 158 | | 35.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the bank or |
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159 | 159 | | other person must take to avoid or reduce the amount of a penalty |
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160 | 160 | | that would otherwise be imposed under this section [violate the |
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161 | 161 | | order]. |
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162 | 162 | | (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed |
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163 | 163 | | [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner |
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164 | 164 | | shall consider the following factors: |
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165 | 165 | | (1) the financial resources of the bank or other |
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166 | 166 | | person; |
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167 | 167 | | (2) the good faith of the bank or other person, |
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168 | 168 | | including any corrective action taken; |
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169 | 169 | | (3) the gravity of the violation; |
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170 | 170 | | (4) the history of previous violations; |
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171 | 171 | | (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the |
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172 | 172 | | amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for |
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173 | 173 | | the same conduct; and |
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174 | 174 | | (6) any other matter that justice may require |
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175 | 175 | | [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance |
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176 | 176 | | with the order]. |
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177 | 177 | | (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the |
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178 | 178 | | hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct |
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179 | 179 | | constitutes a violation [order has been violated], the banking |
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180 | 180 | | commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a [the] |
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181 | 181 | | bank or other person, as applicable, in an amount: |
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182 | 182 | | (1) if imposed against a bank, not less than $500 and |
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183 | 183 | | not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day the violation |
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184 | 184 | | continues, except that the maximum administrative penalty that may |
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185 | 185 | | be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent of the bank's |
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186 | 186 | | assets; or |
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187 | 187 | | (2) if imposed against a person other than a bank, not |
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188 | 188 | | less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each violation for each |
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189 | 189 | | day the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative |
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190 | 190 | | penalty that may be imposed is $250,000 [not to exceed $500 for each |
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191 | 191 | | day the bank violates the final order]. |
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192 | 192 | | SECTION 7. Section 35.011, Finance Code, is amended to read |
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193 | 193 | | as follows: |
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194 | 194 | | Sec. 35.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. |
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195 | 195 | | (a) When a penalty order under Section 35.010 becomes final, the |
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196 | 196 | | bank or other person, as applicable, shall pay the penalty or appeal |
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197 | 197 | | by filing a petition for judicial review. |
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198 | 198 | | (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order |
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199 | 199 | | during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court |
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200 | 200 | | sustains the order, the court shall order the bank or other person, |
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201 | 201 | | as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty or a lower |
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202 | 202 | | amount determined by the court. If the court does not sustain the |
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203 | 203 | | order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of the court |
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204 | 204 | | requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the penalty, at |
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205 | 205 | | the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by the Federal |
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206 | 206 | | Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the date the judgment is |
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207 | 207 | | final and ending on the date the penalty and interest are paid. |
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208 | 208 | | (c) If the bank or other person, as applicable, does not pay |
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209 | 209 | | the penalty imposed under a final and nonappealable penalty order, |
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210 | 210 | | the banking commissioner shall refer the matter to the attorney |
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211 | 211 | | general for enforcement. The attorney general is entitled to |
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212 | 212 | | recover reasonable attorney's fees from the bank or other person, |
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213 | 213 | | as applicable, if the attorney general prevails in judicial action |
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214 | 214 | | necessary for collection of the penalty. |
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215 | 215 | | SECTION 8. Section 35.012, Finance Code, is amended to read |
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216 | 216 | | as follows: |
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217 | 217 | | Sec. 35.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a |
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218 | 218 | | notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in |
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219 | 219 | | the records of the department relating to an order issued under this |
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220 | 220 | | subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by |
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221 | 221 | | Subchapter D, Chapter 31, except that the banking commissioner |
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222 | 222 | | periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition |
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223 | 223 | | orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and |
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224 | 224 | | desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or |
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225 | 225 | | information regarding the existence of any of those orders [the |
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226 | 226 | | order] to the public if the banking commissioner concludes that the |
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227 | 227 | | release would enhance effective enforcement of the order. |
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228 | 228 | | SECTION 9. Section 185.003, Finance Code, is amended by |
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229 | 229 | | amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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230 | 230 | | read as follows: |
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231 | 231 | | (a) The banking commissioner has grounds to remove or |
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232 | 232 | | prohibit a present or former officer, director, manager, managing |
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233 | 233 | | participant, or employee of a state trust company from office or |
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234 | 234 | | employment in, or [to] prohibit a controlling shareholder or |
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235 | 235 | | participant or other person from participation in the affairs of, |
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236 | 236 | | the state trust company or any other entity chartered, registered, |
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237 | 237 | | permitted, or licensed by the banking commissioner if the banking |
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238 | 238 | | commissioner determines from examination or other credible |
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239 | 239 | | evidence that: |
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240 | 240 | | (1) the person: |
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241 | 241 | | (A) intentionally committed or participated in |
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242 | 242 | | the commission of an act described by Section 185.002(a) with |
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243 | 243 | | regard to the affairs of a financial institution, as defined by |
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244 | 244 | | Section 201.101 [the state trust company]; [or] |
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245 | 245 | | (B) violated a final cease and desist order |
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246 | 246 | | issued by a state or federal regulatory agency against the person or |
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247 | 247 | | an entity in which the person is or was an officer, director, or |
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248 | 248 | | employee [in response to the same or a similar act]; or |
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249 | 249 | | (C) made, or caused to be made, false entries in |
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250 | 250 | | the records of a financial institution; |
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251 | 251 | | (2) because of this [that] action by the person: |
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252 | 252 | | (A) the financial institution [state trust |
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253 | 253 | | company] has suffered or will probably suffer financial loss or |
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254 | 254 | | expense, or other damage; |
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255 | 255 | | (B) the interests of the [trust company's] |
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256 | 256 | | clients, depositors, creditors, or shareholders of the financial |
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257 | 257 | | institution have been or could be prejudiced; or |
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258 | 258 | | (C) the person has received financial gain or |
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259 | 259 | | other benefit by reason of the action, or likely would have if the |
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260 | 260 | | action had not been discovered [violation]; and |
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261 | 261 | | (3) that action by the person: |
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262 | 262 | | (A) involves personal dishonesty on the part of |
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263 | 263 | | the person; or |
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264 | 264 | | (B) demonstrates wilful or continuing disregard |
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265 | 265 | | for the safety or soundness of the financial institution [state |
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266 | 266 | | trust company]. |
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267 | 267 | | (b) If the banking commissioner has grounds for action under |
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268 | 268 | | Subsection (a) and finds that a removal or prohibition order |
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269 | 269 | | appears to be necessary and in the best interest of the state trust |
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270 | 270 | | company involved and its clients, creditors, [and] shareholders, or |
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271 | 271 | | participants, the banking commissioner may serve a proposed removal |
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272 | 272 | | or prohibition order, as appropriate, on an officer, employee, |
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273 | 273 | | director, manager or managing participant, controlling shareholder |
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274 | 274 | | or participant, or other person alleged to have committed or |
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275 | 275 | | participated in the violation or other conduct described by Section |
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276 | 276 | | 185.002(a). The order must: |
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277 | 277 | | (1) be delivered by personal delivery or by registered |
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278 | 278 | | or certified mail, return receipt requested; |
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279 | 279 | | (2) state with reasonable certainty the grounds for |
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280 | 280 | | removal or prohibition; [and] |
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281 | 281 | | (3) state the effective date of the order, which may |
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282 | 282 | | not be before [earlier than] the 21st day after the date the |
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283 | 283 | | proposed order is delivered or mailed; and |
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284 | 284 | | (4) state the duration of the order, including whether |
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285 | 285 | | the duration of the order is perpetual [or delivered]. |
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286 | 286 | | (b-1) The banking commissioner may make a removal or |
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287 | 287 | | prohibition order perpetual or effective for a specific period of |
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288 | 288 | | time, may probate the order, or may impose other conditions on the |
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289 | 289 | | order. |
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290 | 290 | | SECTION 10. Subsection (b), Section 185.005, Finance Code, |
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291 | 291 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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292 | 292 | | (b) In each emergency order the banking commissioner shall |
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293 | 293 | | notify the state trust company and any person against whom the |
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294 | 294 | | emergency order is directed of: |
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295 | 295 | | (1) the specific conduct requiring the order; |
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296 | 296 | | (2) the citation of each statute or rule alleged to |
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297 | 297 | | have been violated; |
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298 | 298 | | (3) the immediate and irreparable harm alleged to be |
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299 | 299 | | threatened; [and] |
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300 | 300 | | (4) the duration of the order, including whether the |
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301 | 301 | | duration of the order is perpetual; and |
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302 | 302 | | (5) the right to a hearing. |
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303 | 303 | | SECTION 11. Subsection (a), Section 185.007, Finance Code, |
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304 | 304 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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305 | 305 | | (a) Except as provided by other law, without the prior |
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306 | 306 | | written approval of the banking commissioner, a person subject to a |
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307 | 307 | | final and enforceable removal or prohibition order issued by the |
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308 | 308 | | banking commissioner, or by another state, federal, or foreign |
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309 | 309 | | financial institution regulatory agency, may not: |
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310 | 310 | | (1) serve as a director, officer, or employee of a |
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311 | 311 | | state trust company or [,] state bank, or as a director, officer, or |
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312 | 312 | | employee with financial responsibility of any other entity |
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313 | 313 | | chartered, registered, permitted, or licensed by the banking |
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314 | 314 | | commissioner under the laws of this state while the order is in |
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315 | 315 | | effect[, including an interstate branch, trust office, or |
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316 | 316 | | representative office in this state of an out-of-state bank, trust |
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317 | 317 | | company, or foreign bank]; |
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318 | 318 | | (2) directly or indirectly participate in any manner |
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319 | 319 | | in the management of such an entity; |
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320 | 320 | | (3) directly or indirectly vote for a director of such |
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321 | 321 | | an entity; or |
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322 | 322 | | (4) solicit, procure, transfer, attempt to transfer, |
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323 | 323 | | vote, or attempt to vote a proxy, consent, or authorization with |
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324 | 324 | | respect to voting rights in such an entity. |
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325 | 325 | | SECTION 12. Subchapter A, Chapter 185, Finance Code, is |
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326 | 326 | | amended by adding Section 185.0071 to read as follows: |
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327 | 327 | | Sec. 185.0071. APPLICATION FOR RELEASE FROM FINAL REMOVAL |
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328 | 328 | | OR PROHIBITION ORDER. (a) After the expiration of 10 years from |
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329 | 329 | | the date of issuance, a person who is subject to a prohibition or |
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330 | 330 | | removal order issued under this subchapter, regardless of the |
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331 | 331 | | order's stated duration or date of issuance, may apply to the |
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332 | 332 | | banking commissioner to be released from the order. |
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333 | 333 | | (b) The application must be made under oath and in the form |
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334 | 334 | | required by the banking commissioner. The application must be |
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335 | 335 | | accompanied by any required fees. |
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336 | 336 | | (c) The banking commissioner, in the exercise of |
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337 | 337 | | discretion, may approve or deny an application filed under this |
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338 | 338 | | section. |
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339 | 339 | | (d) The banking commissioner's decision under Subsection |
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340 | 340 | | (c) is final and not appealable. |
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341 | 341 | | SECTION 13. Section 185.009, Finance Code, is amended to |
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342 | 342 | | read as follows: |
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343 | 343 | | Sec. 185.009. ENFORCEMENT BY COMMISSIONER [OF FINAL ORDER]. |
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344 | 344 | | (a) If the banking commissioner reasonably believes that a state |
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345 | 345 | | trust company or other person has violated any of the following, the |
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346 | 346 | | banking commissioner may take any action authorized under |
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347 | 347 | | Subsection (a-1): |
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348 | 348 | | (1) this subtitle or rules enacted under this subtitle |
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349 | 349 | | and, as a result of that violation, exposed or could have exposed |
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350 | 350 | | the state trust company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or |
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351 | 351 | | participants to harm; |
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352 | 352 | | (2) other applicable law of this state and, as a result |
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353 | 353 | | of that violation, exposed or could have exposed the state trust |
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354 | 354 | | company or its clients, creditors, shareholders, or participants to |
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355 | 355 | | harm; or |
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356 | 356 | | (3) a final order issued by the banking commissioner. |
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357 | 357 | | (a-1) The [a final and enforceable cease and desist, |
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358 | 358 | | removal, or prohibition order issued under this subchapter, the] |
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359 | 359 | | banking commissioner may: |
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360 | 360 | | (1) initiate administrative penalty proceedings |
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361 | 361 | | against the state trust company or other person, as applicable, in |
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362 | 362 | | accordance with Sections [under Section] 185.010 and 185.011; |
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363 | 363 | | (2) refer the matter to the attorney general for |
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364 | 364 | | enforcement by injunction or other available remedy; or |
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365 | 365 | | (3) pursue any other action the banking commissioner |
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366 | 366 | | considers appropriate under applicable law. |
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367 | 367 | | (b) If the attorney general prevails in an action brought |
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368 | 368 | | under Subsection (a-1)(2) [(a)(2)], the attorney general is |
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369 | 369 | | entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from a state trust |
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370 | 370 | | company or person committing the violation [violating the order]. |
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371 | 371 | | SECTION 14. Section 185.010, Finance Code, is amended to |
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372 | 372 | | read as follows: |
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373 | 373 | | Sec. 185.010. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The banking |
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374 | 374 | | commissioner may initiate a proceeding for an administrative |
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375 | 375 | | penalty against a state trust company or other person by serving on |
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376 | 376 | | the state trust company or other person, as applicable, notice of |
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377 | 377 | | the time and place of a hearing on the penalty. The hearing may not |
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378 | 378 | | be held earlier than the 20th day after the date the notice is |
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379 | 379 | | served. The notice must: |
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380 | 380 | | (1) be served by personal delivery or by registered or |
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381 | 381 | | certified mail, return receipt requested; [and] |
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382 | 382 | | (2) contain a statement of the conduct alleged to |
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383 | 383 | | constitute a [be in] violation; and |
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384 | 384 | | (3) if the alleged violation is described by Section |
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385 | 385 | | 185.009(a)(1) or (2), identify corrective action that the state |
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386 | 386 | | trust company or other person must take to avoid or reduce the |
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387 | 387 | | amount of a penalty that would otherwise be imposed under this |
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388 | 388 | | section [of the order]. |
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389 | 389 | | (b) In determining the amount of any penalty to be imposed |
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390 | 390 | | [whether an order has been violated], the banking commissioner |
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391 | 391 | | shall consider the following factors: |
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392 | 392 | | (1) the financial resources of the state trust company |
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393 | 393 | | or other person; |
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394 | 394 | | (2) the good faith of the state trust company or other |
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395 | 395 | | person, including any corrective action taken; |
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396 | 396 | | (3) the gravity of the violation; |
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397 | 397 | | (4) the history of previous violations; |
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398 | 398 | | (5) an offset of the amount of the penalty by the |
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399 | 399 | | amount of any penalty imposed by another state or federal agency for |
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400 | 400 | | the same conduct; and |
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401 | 401 | | (6) any other matter that justice may require |
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402 | 402 | | [maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to ensure compliance |
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403 | 403 | | with the order]. |
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404 | 404 | | (c) If the banking commissioner determines after the |
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405 | 405 | | hearing that the alleged conduct occurred and that the conduct |
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406 | 406 | | constitutes a violation [an order has been violated], the banking |
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407 | 407 | | commissioner may impose an administrative penalty against a state |
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408 | 408 | | trust company or other person, as applicable, in an amount: |
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409 | 409 | | (1) if imposed against a state trust company, not less |
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410 | 410 | | than $500 and not more than $10,000 for each violation for each day |
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411 | 411 | | the violation continues, except that the maximum administrative |
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412 | 412 | | penalty that may be imposed is the lesser of $500,000 or one percent |
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413 | 413 | | of the state trust company's assets; or |
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414 | 414 | | (2) if imposed against a person other than a state |
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415 | 415 | | trust company, not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each |
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416 | 416 | | violation for each day the violation continues, except that the |
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417 | 417 | | maximum administrative penalty that may be imposed is $250,000 [not |
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418 | 418 | | to exceed $500 for each day the state trust company violates the |
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419 | 419 | | final order]. |
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420 | 420 | | SECTION 15. Section 185.011, Finance Code, is amended to |
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421 | 421 | | read as follows: |
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422 | 422 | | Sec. 185.011. PAYMENT OR APPEAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. |
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423 | 423 | | (a) When a penalty order under Section 185.010 becomes final, a |
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424 | 424 | | state trust company or other person, as applicable, shall pay the |
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425 | 425 | | penalty or appeal by filing a petition for judicial review. |
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426 | 426 | | (b) The petition for judicial review stays the penalty order |
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427 | 427 | | during the period preceding the decision of the court. If the court |
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428 | 428 | | sustains the order, the court shall order the state trust company or |
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429 | 429 | | other person, as applicable, to pay the full amount of the penalty |
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430 | 430 | | or a lower amount determined by the court. If the court does not |
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431 | 431 | | sustain the order, a penalty is not owed. If the final judgment of |
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432 | 432 | | the court requires payment of a penalty, interest accrues on the |
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433 | 433 | | penalty, at the rate charged on loans to depository institutions by |
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434 | 434 | | the [New York] Federal Reserve Bank of New York, beginning on the |
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435 | 435 | | date the judgment is final and ending on the date the penalty and |
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436 | 436 | | interest are paid. |
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437 | 437 | | (c) If the state trust company or other person, as |
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438 | 438 | | applicable, does not pay the penalty imposed under a final and |
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439 | 439 | | nonappealable penalty order, the banking commissioner shall refer |
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440 | 440 | | the matter to the attorney general for enforcement. The attorney |
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441 | 441 | | general is entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees from the |
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442 | 442 | | state trust company or other person, as applicable, if the attorney |
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443 | 443 | | general prevails in judicial action necessary for collection of the |
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444 | 444 | | penalty. |
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445 | 445 | | SECTION 16. Section 185.012, Finance Code, is amended to |
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446 | 446 | | read as follows: |
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447 | 447 | | Sec. 185.012. CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A copy of a |
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448 | 448 | | notice, correspondence, transcript, pleading, or other document in |
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449 | 449 | | the records of the department relating to an order issued under this |
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450 | 450 | | subchapter is confidential and may be released only as provided by |
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451 | 451 | | Subchapter D, Chapter 181, except that the banking commissioner |
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452 | 452 | | periodically shall publish all final removal and prohibition |
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453 | 453 | | orders. The banking commissioner may release a final cease and |
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454 | 454 | | desist order, a final order imposing an administrative penalty, or |
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455 | 455 | | information regarding [relating to] the existence of any of those |
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456 | 456 | | orders [the order] to the public if the banking commissioner |
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457 | 457 | | concludes that the release would enhance effective enforcement of |
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458 | 458 | | the order. |
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459 | 459 | | SECTION 17. Subsection (a), Section 202.005, Finance Code, |
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460 | 460 | | is amended to read as follows: |
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461 | 461 | | (a) The commissioner may: |
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462 | 462 | | (1) examine a bank holding company that controls a |
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463 | 463 | | Texas bank to the same extent as if the bank holding company were a |
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464 | 464 | | Texas state bank; and |
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465 | 465 | | (2) bring an enforcement proceeding under Chapter 35 |
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466 | 466 | | against a bank holding company or other person that violates or |
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467 | 467 | | participates in a violation of Subtitle A, an agreement filed with |
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468 | 468 | | the commissioner under this chapter, or a rule adopted by the |
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469 | 469 | | finance commission or order issued by the commissioner under |
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470 | 470 | | Subtitle A, as if the bank holding company were a Texas state bank. |
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471 | 471 | | SECTION 18. The changes in law made by this Act apply only |
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472 | 472 | | to conduct occurring on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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473 | 473 | | Conduct occurring before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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474 | 474 | | by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the |
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475 | 475 | | former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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476 | 476 | | SECTION 19. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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477 | 477 | | receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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478 | 478 | | house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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479 | 479 | | If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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480 | 480 | | effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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