Bill Text: TX HB3827 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of earned wage access services; requiring an occupational license; providing an administrative penalty; imposing fees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-08 - Received from the House [HB3827 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3827-Engrossed.html
88R20958 JES-F | ||
By: Lambert | H.B. No. 3827 |
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relating to the regulation of earned wage access services; | ||
requiring an occupational license; providing an administrative | ||
penalty; imposing fees. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 14.107, Finance Code, is amended to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 14.107. FEES. (a) The finance commission shall | ||
establish reasonable and necessary fees for carrying out the | ||
commissioner's powers and duties under this chapter, Title 4, | ||
Chapter 393 with respect to a credit access business, and Chapters | ||
371, 392, [ |
||
621, Business & Commerce Code. | ||
(b) The finance commission by rule shall set the fees for | ||
licensing and examination, as applicable, under Chapter 393 with | ||
respect to a credit access business or Chapter 342, 347, 348, 351, | ||
353, [ |
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costs of administering those chapters. The rules may provide that | ||
the amount of a fee charged to a license holder is based on the | ||
volume of the license holder's regulated business and other key | ||
factors. The commissioner may provide for collection of a single | ||
fee for the term of the license from a person licensed under | ||
Subchapter G of Chapter 393 or Chapter 342, 347, 348, 351, or | ||
371. The fee must include amounts due for both licensing and | ||
examination. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 14.112(a), Finance Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(a) The finance commission by rule shall prescribe the | ||
licensing or registration period for licenses and registrations | ||
issued under Chapters 342, 345, 347, 348, 351, 352, 353, 371, 393, | ||
[ |
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not to exceed two years. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 14.201, Finance Code, is amended to read | ||
as follows: | ||
Sec. 14.201. INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. | ||
Investigative and enforcement authority under this subchapter | ||
applies only to: | ||
(1) this chapter; | ||
(2) Subtitles B and C, Title 4; | ||
(3) Chapter 393 with respect to a credit access | ||
business; | ||
(4) Chapter 394; | ||
(5) Chapter 398; and | ||
(6) [ |
||
Code. | ||
SECTION 4. Sections 14.251(a) and (b), Finance Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The commissioner may assess an administrative penalty | ||
against a person who knowingly and wilfully violates or causes a | ||
violation of this chapter, Chapter 394, Chapter 398, or Subtitle B, | ||
Title 4, or a rule adopted under this chapter, Chapter 394, Chapter | ||
398, or Subtitle B, Title 4. | ||
(b) The commissioner may order the following businesses or | ||
other persons to pay restitution to an identifiable person: | ||
(1) a person who violates or causes a violation of this | ||
chapter, Chapter 394, or Subtitle B, Title 4, or a rule adopted | ||
under this chapter, Chapter 394, or Subtitle B, Title 4; | ||
(2) a credit access business who violates or causes a | ||
violation of Chapter 393 or a rule adopted under Chapter 393; | ||
(3) an earned wage access services provider who | ||
violates or causes a violation of Chapter 398 or a rule adopted | ||
under Chapter 398; or | ||
(4) [ |
||
of Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, or a rule adopted | ||
under that subchapter. | ||
SECTION 5. Title 5, Finance Code, is amended by adding | ||
Chapter 398 to read as follows: | ||
CHAPTER 398. EARNED WAGE ACCESS SERVICES | ||
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
Sec. 398.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
(1) "Commissioner" means the consumer credit | ||
commissioner. | ||
(2) "Consumer" means an individual who resides in this | ||
state. | ||
(3) "Consumer-directed wage access services" means | ||
offering or providing services directly to a consumer based on the | ||
consumer's earned but unpaid income. | ||
(4) "Earned but unpaid income" means salary, wages, | ||
compensation, or income that: | ||
(A) a consumer represents, and a provider | ||
reasonably determines, has been earned or has accrued to the | ||
benefit of the consumer in exchange for the consumer's provision of | ||
services to an employer or on the employer's behalf; and | ||
(B) has not, at the time of the payment of | ||
proceeds, been paid to the consumer by the employer. | ||
(5) "Earned wage access services" means the business | ||
of providing: | ||
(A) consumer-directed wage access services; | ||
(B) employer-integrated wage access services; or | ||
(C) both consumer-directed wage access services | ||
and employer-integrated wage access services. | ||
(6) "Earned wage access services provider" or | ||
"provider" means a person who is in the business of offering and | ||
providing earned wage access services to consumers. | ||
(7) "Employer" means a person who employs a consumer | ||
or a person who is contractually obligated to pay a consumer earned | ||
but unpaid income on an hourly, project-based, piecework, or other | ||
basis, in exchange for the consumer's provision of services to the | ||
employer or on the employer's behalf, including to a consumer who is | ||
acting as an independent contractor with respect to the employer. | ||
The term does not include a customer of the employer or a person | ||
whose obligation to pay salary, wages, compensation, or other | ||
income to a consumer is not based on the consumer's provision of | ||
services for or on behalf of that person. | ||
(8) "Employer-integrated wage access services" means | ||
delivering to consumers access to earned but unpaid income that is | ||
based on employment, income, and attendance data obtained directly | ||
or indirectly from an employer. | ||
(9) "Fee" includes an amount charged by a provider for | ||
expedited delivery or other delivery of proceeds to a consumer and | ||
for a subscription or membership fee charged by a provider for a | ||
bona fide group of services that includes earned wage access | ||
services. The term does not include a voluntary tip, gratuity, or | ||
donation paid to the provider. | ||
(10) "Outstanding proceeds" means proceeds remitted | ||
to a consumer by a provider that have not been repaid to that | ||
provider. | ||
(11) "Person" means a corporation, partnership, | ||
cooperative, association, or other business entity. | ||
(12) "Proceeds" means a payment to a consumer by a | ||
provider that is based on earned but unpaid income. | ||
Sec. 398.002. APPLICABILITY OF AND CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAW. | ||
(a) A person licensed under this chapter is not subject to the | ||
provisions of Chapter 151 or Title 4 of this code with respect to | ||
earned wage access services offered or provided by the person. | ||
(b) If there is a conflict between a provision of this | ||
chapter and any other provision of this title, the provision of this | ||
chapter controls. | ||
Sec. 398.003. WAIVER VOID. A waiver of a provision of this | ||
chapter by a consumer is void. | ||
SUBCHAPTER B. LICENSE REQUIRED; APPLICATION FOR AND ISSUANCE OF | ||
LICENSE | ||
Sec. 398.051. LICENSE REQUIRED. (a) Except as provided by | ||
Subsection (c), a person must hold a license under this chapter to | ||
engage in the business of offering or providing earned wage access | ||
services in this state. | ||
(b) A person may not use any device, subterfuge, or pretense | ||
to evade the application of this section. | ||
(c) The following persons are not required to obtain a | ||
license under Subsection (a): | ||
(1) a bank, credit union, savings bank, or savings and | ||
loan association organized under the laws of the United States or | ||
under the laws of the financial institution's state of domicile; or | ||
(2) an employer that offers a portion of salary, | ||
wages, or compensation directly to its employees or independent | ||
contractors before the normally scheduled pay date. | ||
Sec. 398.052. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS; FEES. (a) The | ||
application for a license under this chapter must: | ||
(1) be under oath; | ||
(2) give the approximate location from which the | ||
business is to be conducted or state that the business will be | ||
conducted entirely online; | ||
(3) identify the business's principal parties in | ||
interest; and | ||
(4) contain other relevant information that the | ||
commissioner requires. | ||
(b) On the filing of one or more license applications, the | ||
applicant shall pay to the commissioner an investigation fee of | ||
$200. | ||
(c) On the filing of each license application, the applicant | ||
shall pay to the commissioner a license fee in an amount determined | ||
as provided by Section 14.107. | ||
Sec. 398.053. BOND. (a) If the commissioner requires, an | ||
applicant for a license under this chapter shall file with the | ||
application a bond that is: | ||
(1) in the amount of $10,000, regardless of the number | ||
of license applications filed by the applicant; | ||
(2) satisfactory to the commissioner; and | ||
(3) issued by a surety company qualified to do | ||
business as a surety in this state. | ||
(b) The bond must be in favor of this state for the use of | ||
this state and the use of a person who has a cause of action under | ||
this chapter against the license holder. | ||
(c) The bond must be conditioned on: | ||
(1) the license holder's faithful performance under | ||
this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter; and | ||
(2) the payment of all amounts that become due to this | ||
state or another person under this chapter during the period for | ||
which the bond is given. | ||
(d) The aggregate liability of a surety to all persons | ||
damaged by the license holder's violation of this chapter may not | ||
exceed the amount of the bond. | ||
Sec. 398.054. INVESTIGATION OF APPLICATION. On the filing | ||
of an application and a bond, if required under Section 398.053, and | ||
on payment of the required fees, the commissioner shall conduct an | ||
investigation to determine whether to issue the license. | ||
Sec. 398.055. APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF APPLICATION; ISSUANCE | ||
OF LICENSE. (a) The commissioner shall approve the application and | ||
issue to the applicant a license under this chapter if the | ||
commissioner finds that: | ||
(1) the financial responsibility, experience, | ||
character, and general fitness of the applicant are sufficient to: | ||
(A) command the confidence of the public; and | ||
(B) warrant the belief that the business will be | ||
operated lawfully and fairly, within the purposes of this chapter; | ||
and | ||
(2) the applicant has net assets of at least $25,000 | ||
available for the operation of the business as determined in | ||
accordance with Section 398.103. | ||
(b) If the commissioner does not find the eligibility | ||
requirements of Subsection (a) are met, the commissioner shall | ||
notify the applicant. | ||
(c) If an applicant requests a hearing on the application | ||
not later than the 30th day after the date of notification under | ||
Subsection (b), the applicant is entitled to a hearing not later | ||
than the 60th day after the date of the request. | ||
(d) The commissioner shall approve or deny the application | ||
not later than the 60th day after the date of the filing of a | ||
completed application with payment of the required fees or, if a | ||
hearing is held, after the date of the completion of the hearing on | ||
the application. The commissioner and the applicant may agree to a | ||
later date in writing. | ||
Sec. 398.056. DISPOSITION OF FEES ON DENIAL OF APPLICATION. | ||
If the commissioner denies the application, the commissioner shall | ||
retain the investigation fee and shall return to the applicant the | ||
license fee submitted with the application. | ||
Sec. 398.057. LICENSE TERM. A license issued under this | ||
chapter is valid for the period prescribed by finance commission | ||
rule adopted under Section 14.112. | ||
SUBCHAPTER C. LICENSE | ||
Sec. 398.101. NAME AND PLACE ON LICENSE. (a) A license | ||
must state: | ||
(1) the name of the license holder; and | ||
(2) the address of the office from which the business | ||
is to be conducted or, if the business is to be conducted entirely | ||
online, the address of the license holder's headquarters. | ||
(b) A license holder may not conduct business under this | ||
chapter under a name other than the name stated on the license. | ||
(c) A license holder may not conduct business under this | ||
chapter at a location other than the address stated on the license, | ||
unless the business is to be conducted entirely online. | ||
Sec. 398.102. LICENSE DISPLAY. A license holder shall | ||
display a license at the place of business provided on the license | ||
or include its license number on the business's Internet website if | ||
it conducts business online. | ||
Sec. 398.103. MINIMUM ASSETS FOR LICENSE. A license holder | ||
shall maintain for each office for which a license is held net | ||
assets of at least $25,000 that are used or readily available for | ||
use in conducting the business of that office. A license holder | ||
that operates entirely online shall maintain net assets of at least | ||
$25,000. | ||
Sec. 398.104. LICENSE FEE. Not later than the 30th day | ||
before the date the license expires, a license holder shall pay to | ||
the commissioner for each license held a fee in an amount determined | ||
as provided by Section 14.107. | ||
Sec. 398.105. EXPIRATION OF LICENSE ON FAILURE TO PAY FEE. | ||
If the fee for a license is not paid before the 16th day after the | ||
date on which the written notice of delinquency of payment has been | ||
given to the license holder, the license expires on that day. | ||
Sec. 398.106. GROUNDS FOR REFUSING LICENSE RENEWAL. The | ||
commissioner may refuse to renew the license of a person who fails | ||
to comply with an order issued by the commissioner to enforce this | ||
chapter. | ||
Sec. 398.107. LICENSE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION. After | ||
notice and opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner may suspend | ||
or revoke a license if the commissioner finds that: | ||
(1) the license holder failed to pay the license fee, | ||
an examination fee, an investigation fee, or another charge imposed | ||
by the commissioner under this chapter; | ||
(2) the license holder, knowingly or without the | ||
exercise of due care, violated this chapter or a rule adopted or | ||
order issued under this chapter; or | ||
(3) a fact or condition exists that, if it had existed | ||
or had been known to exist at the time of the original application | ||
for the license, clearly would have justified the commissioner's | ||
denial of the application. | ||
Sec. 398.108. CORPORATE CHARTER FORFEITURE. (a) A license | ||
holder who violates this chapter is subject to revocation of the | ||
holder's license and, if the license holder is a corporation, | ||
forfeiture of the corporation's charter. | ||
(b) When the attorney general is notified of a violation of | ||
this chapter and revocation of a license, the attorney general | ||
shall file suit in a district court in Travis County, if the license | ||
holder is a corporation, for forfeiture of the license holder's | ||
charter. | ||
Sec. 398.109. LICENSE SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION FILED WITH | ||
PUBLIC RECORDS. The decision of the commissioner on the suspension | ||
or revocation of a license and the evidence considered by the | ||
commissioner in making the decision shall be filed in the public | ||
records of the commissioner. | ||
Sec. 398.110. REINSTATEMENT OF SUSPENDED LICENSE; ISSUANCE | ||
OF NEW LICENSE AFTER REVOCATION. The commissioner may reinstate a | ||
suspended license or issue a new license on application to a person | ||
whose license has been revoked if at the time of the reinstatement | ||
or issuance no fact or condition exists that clearly would have | ||
justified the commissioner's denial of an original application for | ||
the license. | ||
Sec. 398.111. SURRENDER OF LICENSE. A license holder may | ||
surrender a license issued under this chapter by complying with the | ||
commissioner's written instructions relating to the surrender. | ||
Sec. 398.112. EFFECT OF LICENSE SUSPENSION, REVOCATION, OR | ||
SURRENDER. (a) The suspension, revocation, or surrender of a | ||
license issued under this chapter does not affect the obligation of | ||
a contract between the license holder and a consumer entered into | ||
before the revocation, suspension, or surrender. | ||
(b) Surrender of a license does not affect the license | ||
holder's civil or criminal liability for an act committed before | ||
surrender. | ||
Sec. 398.113. MOVING AN OFFICE. (a) A license holder shall | ||
give written notice to the commissioner before the 30th day | ||
preceding the date the license holder moves an office from the | ||
location provided on the license. | ||
(b) The commissioner shall amend a license holder's license | ||
accordingly. | ||
Sec. 398.114. TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT OF LICENSE. A license | ||
may be transferred or assigned only with the approval of the | ||
commissioner. | ||
SUBCHAPTER D. LIMITING LIABILITY BY LATE LICENSURE | ||
Sec. 398.151. PAYMENT OF FEES. A person who obtains or | ||
renews a license under this chapter after the date on which the | ||
person was required to obtain or renew the license may limit the | ||
person's liability as provided by this subchapter by paying to the | ||
commissioner: | ||
(1) all prior license fees that the person should have | ||
paid under this chapter; and | ||
(2) a late filing fee as provided by Section 398.152. | ||
Sec. 398.152. LATE FILING FEE FOR OBTAINING OR RENEWING | ||
LICENSE. (a) The late filing fee for renewing an expired license | ||
is $1,000 if the license: | ||
(1) was in good standing when it expired; and | ||
(2) is renewed not later than the 180th day after its | ||
expiration date. | ||
(b) The late filing fee is $5,000 for: | ||
(1) obtaining a license after the time it is required | ||
under this chapter; or | ||
(2) renewing an expired license to which Subsection | ||
(a) does not apply. | ||
Sec. 398.153. EFFECT OF COMPLIANCE WITH SUBCHAPTER FOR | ||
LICENSE HOLDER. (a) A person who renews an expired license and | ||
pays the applicable license fees and, if required, a late filing fee | ||
as provided by Section 398.152 is considered for all purposes to | ||
have held the required license as if it had not expired. | ||
(b) A person who under this section is considered to have | ||
held a license is not subject to any liability, forfeiture, or | ||
penalty, other than as provided by this subchapter, relating to the | ||
person's not holding a license during the period for which the | ||
license fees and late filing fee are paid under Section 398.152. | ||
Sec. 398.154. EFFECT OF COMPLIANCE WITH SUBCHAPTER ON | ||
PERSON OTHER THAN LICENSE HOLDER. A benefit provided to a person | ||
under Section 398.153 also applies to that person's employees or | ||
other agents, employers, predecessors, successors, and assigns but | ||
does not apply to any other person required to be licensed under | ||
this title. | ||
SUBCHAPTER E. DISCLOSURE STATEMENT | ||
Sec. 398.201. DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. (a) Before executing | ||
a contract with a consumer for the provision of earned wage access | ||
services, an earned wage access services provider shall provide the | ||
consumer with a disclosure that: | ||
(1) may be in written or electronic form; | ||
(2) may be included as part of the contract to provide | ||
earned wage access services; | ||
(3) uses a font and language intended to be easily | ||
understood by a layperson; | ||
(4) informs the consumer of the consumer's rights | ||
under the contract; | ||
(5) fully and clearly discloses each fee associated | ||
with the earned wage access services; | ||
(6) includes an explanation of the consumer's right to | ||
proceed against the surety bond under Section 398.053; and | ||
(7) provides the name and address of the surety | ||
company that issued the surety bond. | ||
(b) An earned wage access services provider must notify a | ||
consumer of any material change to the information provided in a | ||
disclosure statement under Subsection (a) to that consumer, using a | ||
font and language intended to be easily understood by a layperson, | ||
before implementing the particular change with respect to that | ||
consumer. | ||
Sec. 398.202. COPY OF DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. An earned wage | ||
access services provider shall keep in its files a copy of the | ||
disclosure statement, including any notifications of material | ||
changes to the statement, required under Section 398.201 that | ||
includes the consumer's written or digital signature acknowledging | ||
receipt of the disclosure statement or notification until the | ||
second anniversary of the date on which the provider provides the | ||
disclosure or notification. | ||
SUBCHAPTER F. CONTRACT FOR SERVICES | ||
Sec. 398.251. FORM AND TERMS OF CONTRACT. (a) Each | ||
contract for the provision of earned wage access services to a | ||
consumer by a provider may be in writing or electronic form and | ||
must: | ||
(1) be dated; | ||
(2) include the written or digital signature of the | ||
consumer; and | ||
(3) use a font and language intended to be easily | ||
understood by a layperson. | ||
(b) Each contract must disclose that: | ||
(1) the provider is required to offer the consumer at | ||
least one reasonable option to obtain proceeds at no cost to the | ||
consumer and clearly explain how to elect that no-cost option; | ||
(2) fee obligations are subject to the limitations on | ||
compelling or attempting to compel repayment under Section | ||
398.301(a)(6); | ||
(3) proceeds will be provided to the consumer using a | ||
method agreed to by the consumer and the provider; | ||
(4) the consumer may cancel at any time the consumer's | ||
participation in the provider's earned wage access services without | ||
incurring a cancellation fee; | ||
(5) the provider is required to develop and implement | ||
policies and procedures to respond to questions asked and concerns | ||
raised by consumers and to address complaints from consumers in an | ||
expedient manner; | ||
(6) if a provider seeks repayment of outstanding | ||
proceeds, a fee, or another payment from a consumer, including a | ||
voluntary tip, gratuity, or other donation, from a consumer's | ||
account at a depository institution, including through an | ||
electronic funds transfer, the provider must: | ||
(A) comply with applicable provisions of and | ||
regulations adopted under the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act | ||
(15 U.S.C. Section 1693 et seq.); and | ||
(B) unless the payment sought by the provider was | ||
incurred by the consumer using fraudulent or unlawful means, | ||
reimburse the consumer for the full amount of any overdraft or | ||
non-sufficient funds fees imposed on the consumer by the consumer's | ||
depository institution if the provider attempts to seek any payment | ||
from the consumer on a date before, or in a different amount from, | ||
the date or amount disclosed to the consumer for that payment; | ||
(7) the provider is required to comply with all local, | ||
state, and federal privacy and information security laws; and | ||
(8) if the provider solicits, charges, or receives a | ||
tip, gratuity, or donation from the consumer, the provider: | ||
(A) must clearly and conspicuously disclose to | ||
the consumer immediately before each transaction that the tip, | ||
gratuity, or donation is voluntary and may be set to zero by the | ||
consumer; | ||
(B) must clearly and conspicuously disclose in | ||
the contract and other service contracts with consumers that any | ||
tip, gratuity, or donation from a consumer to a provider is | ||
voluntary and the offering of earned wage access services, | ||
including the amount of proceeds a consumer is eligible to request | ||
and the frequency with which proceeds are provided to a consumer, is | ||
not contingent on whether a consumer pays any tip, gratuity, or | ||
donation or on the size of any tip, gratuity, or donation; | ||
(C) may not mislead or deceive the consumer | ||
regarding the voluntary nature of the tip, gratuity, or donation; | ||
and | ||
(D) may not represent that the tip, gratuity, or | ||
donation will benefit a specific individual. | ||
Sec. 398.252. ISSUANCE OF CONTRACT. An earned wage access | ||
services provider shall make available to the consumer a copy of the | ||
completed contract, when receipt of the document is acknowledged by | ||
the consumer. | ||
SUBCHAPTER G. PROHIBITIONS | ||
Sec. 398.301. PROHIBITED ACTS. (a) An earned wage access | ||
services provider may not, in connection with providing earned wage | ||
access services to consumers: | ||
(1) share with an employer any fees, tips, gratuities, | ||
or other donations that were received from or charged to a consumer | ||
for earned wage access services; | ||
(2) accept payment of outstanding proceeds, a fee, or | ||
a tip, gratuity, or other donation from a consumer through use of a | ||
credit card or charge card; | ||
(3) charge a late fee, deferral fee, interest, or | ||
other penalty or charge for failure to pay outstanding proceeds, a | ||
fee, or a tip, gratuity, or other donation; | ||
(4) report any information regarding the provider's | ||
inability to receive repayment of outstanding proceeds, or receive | ||
a fee or a tip, gratuity, or other donation, from a consumer to a | ||
consumer credit reporting agency or a debt collector; | ||
(5) require a consumer's credit report or credit score | ||
to determine the consumer's eligibility for earned wage access | ||
services; or | ||
(6) compel or attempt to compel payment by a consumer | ||
of outstanding proceeds, a fee, or a tip, gratuity, or other | ||
donation to the provider by: | ||
(A) repeatedly attempting to debit a consumer's | ||
depository institution account in violation of applicable payment | ||
system rules; | ||
(B) making outbound telephone calls to the | ||
consumer; | ||
(C) filing a suit against the consumer; | ||
(D) using a third party to pursue collection of | ||
the payment from the consumer on the provider's behalf; or | ||
(E) selling the outstanding amount to a | ||
third-party collector or debt buyer for purposes of collection from | ||
the consumer. | ||
(b) An earned wage access services provider is not precluded | ||
from using any of the methods described by Subsection (a)(6) to: | ||
(1) compel or attempt to compel repayment of | ||
outstanding amounts incurred by a consumer through fraudulent or | ||
unlawful means; or | ||
(2) pursue an employer for breach of the employer's | ||
contractual obligations to the provider. | ||
Sec. 398.302. FALSE OR MISLEADING REPRESENTATION OR | ||
STATEMENT. An earned wage access services provider may not make or | ||
use a false or misleading representation or statement to a consumer | ||
during the offer or provision of earned wage access services. | ||
Sec. 398.303. FRAUDULENT OR DECEPTIVE CONDUCT. An earned | ||
wage access services provider may not directly or indirectly engage | ||
in a fraudulent or deceptive act, practice, or course of business | ||
relating to the offer or provision of earned wage access services. | ||
Sec. 398.304. ADVERTISING SERVICES WITHOUT OBTAINING | ||
LICENSE PROHIBITED. An earned wage access services provider may | ||
not advertise its services if the provider has not obtained a | ||
license under this chapter. | ||
Sec. 398.305. WAIVER OF CONSUMER RIGHT PROHIBITED. An | ||
earned wage access services provider may not attempt to cause a | ||
consumer to waive a right under this chapter. | ||
SUBCHAPTER H. ADMINISTRATION OF CHAPTER | ||
Sec. 398.351. ADOPTION OF RULES. (a) The Finance | ||
Commission of Texas may adopt rules to enforce this chapter. | ||
(b) The commissioner shall recommend proposed rules to the | ||
finance commission. | ||
Sec. 398.352. EXAMINATION OF PROVIDERS; ACCESS TO RECORDS. | ||
(a) The commissioner or the commissioner's representative shall, | ||
at the times the commissioner considers necessary: | ||
(1) examine each place of business of each licensed | ||
provider; and | ||
(2) investigate the licensed provider's transactions | ||
and records, including books, accounts, papers, and | ||
correspondence, to the extent the transactions and records pertain | ||
to the business regulated under this chapter. | ||
(b) The licensed provider shall: | ||
(1) give the commissioner or the commissioner's | ||
representative free access to the provider's office, place of | ||
business, files, safes, and vaults; and | ||
(2) provide the commissioner electronic copies of | ||
books, accounts, papers, and correspondence as requested by the | ||
commissioner. | ||
(c) During an examination the commissioner or the | ||
commissioner's representative may administer oaths and examine any | ||
person under oath on any subject pertinent to a matter that the | ||
commissioner is authorized or required to consider, investigate, or | ||
secure information about under this chapter. | ||
(d) Information obtained under this section is | ||
confidential. | ||
(e) A licensed provider's violation of Subsection (b) is a | ||
ground for the suspension or revocation of the provider's license. | ||
Sec. 398.353. GENERAL INVESTIGATION. To discover a | ||
violation of this chapter or to obtain information required under | ||
this chapter, the commissioner or the commissioner's | ||
representative may investigate the records, including books, | ||
accounts, papers, and correspondence, of a licensed provider or | ||
other person who the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe | ||
is violating this chapter, regardless of whether the person claims | ||
to not be subject to this chapter. | ||
Sec. 398.354. CERTIFICATE; CERTIFIED DOCUMENT. On | ||
application by any person and on payment of any associated cost, the | ||
commissioner shall furnish under the commissioner's seal and signed | ||
by the commissioner or an assistant of the commissioner: | ||
(1) a certificate of good standing; or | ||
(2) a certified copy of a license, rule, or order. | ||
Sec. 398.355. TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING: PUBLIC. The | ||
transcript of a hearing held by the commissioner under this chapter | ||
is a public record. | ||
Sec. 398.356. APPOINTMENT OF AGENT. A licensed provider | ||
shall maintain on file with the commissioner the name and address of | ||
the provider's registered agent for service of process. | ||
Sec. 398.357. PAYMENT OF EXAMINATION COSTS AND | ||
ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES. A licensed provider shall pay to the | ||
commissioner an amount assessed by the commissioner to cover the | ||
direct and indirect cost of an examination under Section 398.352 | ||
and a proportionate share of general administrative expenses. | ||
Sec. 398.358. LICENSEE'S RECORDS. (a) A licensed provider | ||
shall maintain a record of each transaction conducted under this | ||
chapter as is necessary to enable the commissioner to determine | ||
whether the provider is complying with this chapter. | ||
(b) A licensed provider shall keep the record and make it | ||
available electronically or physically in this state, until the | ||
later of: | ||
(1) the fourth anniversary of the date of the | ||
transaction; or | ||
(2) the second anniversary of the date on which the | ||
final entry is made in the record. | ||
(c) The commissioner shall accept a licensed provider's | ||
system of records if the system discloses the information | ||
reasonably required under Subsection (a). | ||
Sec. 398.359. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Each year, not later than | ||
May 1 or a later date set by the commissioner, a licensed provider | ||
shall file with the commissioner a report that contains relevant | ||
information required by the commissioner concerning the provider's | ||
business and operations in this state during the preceding calendar | ||
year. The report must include: | ||
(1) the total number of transactions in which the | ||
provider paid proceeds to a consumer; | ||
(2) the total number of consumers to whom the provider | ||
paid proceeds; | ||
(3) the total dollar amount of proceeds paid to all | ||
consumers; | ||
(4) the total dollar amount of fees, tips, gratuities, | ||
or donations the provider received from consumers; | ||
(5) the total number and dollar amount of transactions | ||
in which a payment of proceeds was made to a consumer for which the | ||
provider did not receive repayment of the outstanding proceeds; | ||
(6) the total number and dollar amount of transactions | ||
in which a payment of proceeds was made to a consumer for which the | ||
provider received partial repayment of the outstanding proceeds; | ||
(7) the total dollar amount of unpaid, outstanding | ||
proceeds attributable to transactions described by Subdivision | ||
(6); | ||
(8) the total number and dollar amount of transactions | ||
in which outstanding proceeds were repaid after the original, | ||
scheduled repayment date; and | ||
(9) the total number of written consumer complaints | ||
received by the provider in connection with the provision of earned | ||
wage access services and a list of the reason for each complaint, | ||
listed by frequency of reason for the complaint. | ||
(b) A report under this section must be: | ||
(1) under oath; and | ||
(2) in the form prescribed by the commissioner. | ||
(c) A report under this section is confidential. | ||
(d) Annually the commissioner shall prepare and publish a | ||
consolidated analysis and recapitulation of reports filed under | ||
this section. | ||
SECTION 6. Section 411.095(a), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) The consumer credit commissioner is entitled to obtain | ||
from the department criminal history record information that | ||
relates to a person who is: | ||
(1) an applicant for or holder of a license or | ||
registration under Chapter 180, 342, 347, 348, 351, 353, 371, 393, | ||
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(2) an employee of or volunteer with the Office of | ||
Consumer Credit Commissioner; | ||
(3) an applicant for employment with the Office of | ||
Consumer Credit Commissioner; or | ||
(4) a contractor or subcontractor of the Office of | ||
Consumer Credit Commissioner. | ||
SECTION 7. A person engaging in business as an earned wage | ||
access services provider on the effective date of this Act must | ||
obtain a license in accordance with Chapter 398, Finance Code, as | ||
added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2024. | ||
SECTION 8. Sections 398.201 and 398.251, Finance Code, as | ||
added by this Act, apply only to a contract for earned wage access | ||
services entered into on or after the effective date of this Act. | ||
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |