TITLE 7.BANKING AND SECURITIES

Part 1. FINANCE COMMISSION OF TEXAS

Chapter 3. STATE BANK REGULATION

Subchapter B. GENERAL

7 TAC §3.22

The Finance Commission of Texas (the commission), on behalf of the Texas Department of Banking, proposes an amendment to §3.22, concerning sale or lease agreements between a state bank and an officer, director, manager, managing participant, principal shareholder, or principal participant of the bank or an affiliate of the bank.

Finance Code, §33.109, is intended to apply to specified bank transactions with individuals that are also officers, directors, or principal shareholders of the bank or of an affiliate of the bank. Ambiguous statutory language in §33.109 indicates that the section also addresses transactions between a bank and an affiliate of the bank. Such transactions are adequately addressed by applicable federal law.

The proposed amendment to §3.22 will clarify that transactions between a bank and an affiliate of the bank are not included within the requirements of Finance Code, §33.109, if such transactions are subject to and in compliance with the Federal Reserve Act, §23A and §23B, (12 U.S.C. §371c and §371c-1), and implementing regulations, applicable to nonmember insured state banks by virtue of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, §18(j)(1) (12 U.S.C. §1828(j)(1)). The existing exemption in subsection (f) has become obsolete and is proposed for deletion.

In addition, to enhance readability the proposed amendment will eliminate additional terms used to invoke the law regarding limited banking associations, terms that by statute are synonymous with officer, director, and principal shareholder, see Finance Code, §33.211.

Robert L. Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, has determined that, for each year of the first five years that the amendment as proposed is in effect, there will be no fiscal implication for state or local governments.

Mr. Bacon has further determined that, for each year of the first five years that the amendment as proposed is in effect, the anticipated public benefit will be enhanced clarity and reduction of regulatory burden. For each year of such first five years, there will be no economic costs to persons required to comply with the proposed amendment. Finally, Mr. Bacon has determined that the proposed amendment will not have an adverse effect upon small businesses or micro-businesses.

To be considered, comments concerning the proposed amendment must be submitted within 30 days of publication to Everette Jobe, Senior Counsel, Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 300, Austin, Texas 78705-4294 or by email to ejobe@banking.state.tx.us.

The section is proposed under Finance Code, §11.012(a), which authorizes the commission to adopt rules to implement and clarify applicable laws and to preserve or protect the safety and soundness of state banks. As required by Finance Code, §11.012(b), the commission considered the need to promote a stable banking environment, provide the public with convenient, safe, and competitive banking services, and allow for economic development within this state.

Finance Code, §33.109, is affected by the proposed amendment.

§3.22.Sale or Lease Agreements with an Officer, Director, or [ Manager, Managing Participant, ] Principal Shareholder of the Bank [ or Participant, ] or of an Affiliate of the Bank .

(a) Agreement in writing. A sale or lease agreement between a state bank and an officer, director, [ manager, managing participant, ] or principal shareholder [ , or participant ] of the bank or of an affiliate of the bank must be in writing. Existing verbal agreements must be reduced to writing and approved by the board.

(b) Terms of agreement. A sale or lease agreement between a state bank and an officer, director, [ manager, managing participant, ] or principal shareholder [ or participant ] of the bank or of an affiliate of the bank must comply with applicable laws and regulations, be consistent with prudent and sound banking principles, and have terms and rates that are substantially equivalent to or more favorable to the bank than those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with or involving nonaffiliated parties.

(c) - (d) (No change.)

(e) Records. A state bank shall maintain the originals of all sale or lease agreements with an officer, director, or [ manager, managing participant, ] principal shareholder [ , or principal participant ] of the bank [ , ] or of an affiliate of the bank , which documents must be made available at all times to the Texas Department of Banking for examination and review. For purposes of this subsection, required documentation need not be retained beyond three years after the expiration of the sale or lease agreement to which the documentation pertains.

(f) Exemption. Finance Code, §33.109, and this section do not apply to a transaction subject to and in compliance with the Federal Reserve Act, §23A and §23B (12 U.S.C. §371c and §371c-1), and implementing regulations, applicable to nonmember insured state banks by virtue of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, §18(j)(1) (12 U.S.C. §1828(j)(1)) [ Subsection (d) of this section does not apply to a legally binding, written lease entered into by a state bank prior to June 16, 1991, until such lease is renewed or extended beyond its original term ].

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2007.

TRD-200700741

Sarah J. Shirley

General Counsel

Finance Commission of Texas

Proposed date of adoption: April 20, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1300


Part 2. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF BANKING

Chapter 21. TRUST COMPANY CORPORATE ACTIVITIES

Subchapter B. TRUST COMPANY CHARTERING AND POWERS

7 TAC §21.24

The Finance Commission of Texas (the commission), on behalf of the Texas Department of Banking, proposes an amendment to §21.24, concerning exemptions for trust companies administering family trusts.

Pursuant to Finance Code, §182.011, upon application the banking commissioner may grant exemptions to a trust company from specified provisions of the Finance Code if the banking commissioner finds that the trust company does not transact business with the public. A trust company does not transact business with the public if it acts as a corporate fiduciary for accounts in which all beneficiaries or customers are related within the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity to a person who controls the trust company.

Section 21.24 implements Finance Code, §182.011. The proposed amendment to §21.24(b) will clarify that a beneficial shareholder of a trust company can be considered to be a person who controls the trust company for purposes of Finance Code, §182.011(a). The proposed amendment will eliminate certain difficulties in estate planning caused by the perceived requirement that the controlling family member must have direct voting control of the family trust company.

As proposed, the identification of a beneficial shareholder as the controlling person for purposes of Finance Code, §182.011(a), would be permissive and would not affect determinations of control made pursuant to Finance Code, §183.001.

Robert L. Bacon, Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, has determined that, for each year of the first five years that the amendment as proposed is in effect, there will be no fiscal implication for state or local governments.

Mr. Bacon has further determined that, for each year of the first five years that the amendment as proposed is in effect, the anticipated public benefit will be consistency of law between estate planning for federal tax purposes and the law applicable to exempt family trust companies. For each year of such first five years, there will be no economic costs to persons required to comply with the proposed amendment. Finally, Mr. Bacon has determined that the proposed amendment will not have an adverse effect upon small businesses or micro-businesses.

To be considered, comments concerning the proposed amendment must be submitted within 30 days of publication to Everette Jobe, Senior Counsel, Texas Department of Banking, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Suite 300, Austin, Texas 78705-4294 or by email to ejobe@banking.state.tx.us.

The amendment is proposed pursuant to Finance Code, §182.011(e)(1), which authorizes the commission to adopt rules defining the circumstances under which a state trust company may be exempted because it does not transact business with the public.

Finance Code, §182.011, is affected by the proposed amendment.

§21.24.Exemptions for Trust Companies Administering Family Trusts.

(a) (No change.)

(b) Application for Exemption.

(1) A trust company administering family trusts which seeks exemption from specified provisions of the Trust Company Act, shall file an application, together with the appropriate filing fee required by §21.2 of this title (relating to Filing and Investigation Fees), with the banking commissioner. The application must specify the specific exemptions requested and the reasons or justification for requesting the exemptions. The application must also include a copy of the trust company's articles of association which must contain the following statement in its purposes clause: "The sole purpose for which the trust company is organized is to act as a corporate fiduciary for accounts in which all beneficiaries are related within the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity to _______________ (name of person who controls the trust company)."

(2) A person who has beneficial ownership of sufficient outstanding shares of a class of voting securities to constitute control of a state trust company may be designated as the control person for purposes of Finance Code, §182.011(a) and this section. Such identification of a beneficial shareholder as the controlling person is permissive and does not affect determinations of control made pursuant to Finance Code, §183.001.

(c) - (e) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2007.

TRD-200700740

Sarah J. Shirley

General Counsel

Texas Department of Banking

Proposed date of adoption: April 20, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 475-1300


Part 5. OFFICE OF CONSUMER CREDIT COMMISSIONER

Chapter 84. MOTOR VEHICLE INSTALLMENT SALES

Subchapter A. SALES FINANCE LICENSES

7 TAC §84.112, §84.113

The Finance Commission of Texas (commission) proposes new 7 TAC §84.112, concerning Effect of Criminal History Information on Applicants and Licensees, and §84.113, concerning Crimes Directly Related to Fitness for License; Mitigating Factors.

In general, the purpose of §84.112 and §84.113 is to formally state current agency practice regarding the effects of criminal history information on applicants for and current holders of motor vehicle sales finance licenses. These rules provide consistency across each category of agency licensees, as similar rules were first adopted for pawnbrokers and were recently adopted with regard to regulated lenders.

Section 84.112 describes the effect of criminal history information on applicants and licensees. Subsection (a) explains the collection and consideration of criminal history information. Subsection (b) outlines the information that must be provided on arrests, charges, indictments, and convictions. As per Texas Occupations Code, §53.022, subsection (c) of the rule outlines the factors the agency will consider in determining whether a conviction relates to the occupation of being a motor vehicle sales finance dealer. Subsection (d) provides the effects of criminal convictions on applicants and licensees, including a list of crimes involving moral character.

Section 84.113 is a companion rule to §84.112. Section 84.113 describes the crimes directly related to the fitness for holding a license, as well as mitigating factors that will be considered, as per Texas Occupations Code, §53.023.

Leslie L. Pettijohn, Consumer Credit Commissioner, has determined that for the first five-year period the rules are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of administering the rules.

For each year of the first five years the rules are in effect, Commissioner Pettijohn has also determined that the public benefit anticipated as a result of the proposed new rules will be that the commission's rules will conform to current practice, will be more easily understood by licensees required to comply with the rules, and will be more easily enforced. There is no anticipated cost to persons who are required to comply with the rules as proposed. There will be no adverse economic effect on small or micro businesses. There will be no effect on individuals required to comply with the rules as proposed.

Comments on the proposed new rules may be submitted in writing to Laurie Hobbs, Assistant General Counsel, Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner, 2601 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78705-4207 or by email to laurie.hobbs@occc.state.tx.us. To be considered, a written comment must be received on or before the 31st day after the date the proposed rules are published in the Texas Register . At the conclusion of the 31st day after the proposed rules are published in the Texas Register , no further written comments will be considered or accepted by the commission.

These new sections are proposed under Texas Finance Code, §11.304, which authorizes the commission to adopt rules to enforce Title 4 of the Texas Finance Code. Additionally, Texas Finance Code, §348.513 grants the commission the authority to adopt rules to enforce the motor vehicle installment sales chapter.

These rules affect Texas Finance Code, Chapter 348.

§84.112.Effect of Criminal History Information on Applicants and Licensees.

(a) Criminal history information. Upon submission of an application for a license, a principal party to an applicant for a license is investigated by the commissioner. In submitting an application for a license, a principal party to an applicant for a license is required to provide fingerprint information to the commissioner. Fingerprint information is forwarded to the Texas Department of Public Safety and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain criminal history record information. The commissioner will continue to receive information on new criminal activity reported after the fingerprints have been processed. In the case of a new application or if the commissioner finds a fact or condition that existed or, had it existed the license would have been refused, the commissioner may use the criminal history record information obtained from law enforcement agencies or other criminal history information provided by the applicant or other sources to issue a denial or initiate an enforcement action. Criminal history information relates to the agency's assessment of good moral character and the information gathered is relevant to the licensing or enforcement action decision as described below.

(b) Information on arrests, charges, indictments, and convictions. In responding to the information requests in the application, all arrests, charges, indictments, and convictions shall be disclosed. The applicant must, to the extent possible, secure and provide to the commissioner reliable documents or testimony evidencing the information required to make a determination under subsection (d) of this section, including the recommendations of the prosecution, law enforcement, and correctional authorities. The applicant must also furnish proof in such form as may be required by the commissioner that the principal party of the applicant has maintained a record of steady employment, has supported the principal party's dependents, and has otherwise maintained a record of good conduct. At a minimum, the principal party must furnish proof that all outstanding court costs, supervision fees, fines, and restitution as may have been ordered have been paid. Failure to disclose arrests, charges, indictments, and convictions reflects negatively on an applicant's honesty and moral character.

(c) Factors in determining whether conviction relates to occupation of motor vehicle sales finance dealer. In determining whether a criminal offense directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of holding a license, the commissioner shall consider the following factors, as specified in Texas Occupations Code, §53.022:

(1) the nature and seriousness of the crime;

(2) the relationship of the crime to the purposes for requiring a license to engage in the occupation;

(3) the extent to which a license might offer an opportunity to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the principal party previously had been involved; and

(4) the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of a license holder.

(d) Effect of criminal conviction on applicant or licensee.

(1) Effect of criminal convictions involving moral character. The commissioner may deny an application for a license, or suspend or revoke a license, if the applicant or licensee has a principal party who has been convicted of any felony or of a crime involving moral character that is reasonably related to the applicant's or licensee's fitness to hold a license or to operate lawfully and fairly within Texas Finance Code, Chapter 348. For purposes of this section, the crimes listed below are considered to be crimes involving moral character:

(A) Fraud, misrepresentation, deception, or forgery;

(B) Breach of trust or other fiduciary duty;

(C) Dishonesty or theft;

(D) Assault;

(E) Violation of a statute governing motor vehicle sales finance of this or another state;

(F) Failure to file a required document with a governmental body, or filing a false document;

(G) Attempt, preparation, or conspiracy to commit one of the preceding crimes; or

(H) Attempt, preparation, or conspiracy to evade Texas Finance Code, Chapter 348 and its provisions.

(2) Effect of other criminal convictions. The commissioner may deny an application for a license, or suspend or revoke an existing license, if a principal party of the applicant or licensee has been convicted of a crime that directly relates to the duties and responsibilities of a motor vehicle sales finance dealer who originates or obtains retail installment contracts written under Texas Finance Code, Chapter 348. Adverse action by the commissioner in response to a crime specified in this section is subject to mitigating factors and rights of the applicant or licensee, as found in §84.113 of this title (relating to Crimes Directly Related to Fitness for License; Mitigating Factors).

§84.113.Crimes Directly Related to Fitness for License; Mitigating Factors.

(a) Crimes directly related to fitness for license. Originating or obtaining retail installment contracts made under Texas Finance Code, Chapter 348 involves or may involve making representations to borrowers regarding the terms of retail installment contracts, maintaining accounts for retail installment contracts, repossessing property without a breach of the peace, maintaining goods that have been repossessed, collecting due amounts in a legal manner, and maintaining accurate vehicle title records. Consequently, a crime involving the misrepresentation of costs or benefits of a product or service, the improper handling of money or property entrusted to the individual, a crime involving failure to file a governmental document or filing a false document, or a crime involving the use or threat of force against another person, is a crime directly related to the duties and responsibilities of a license holder and may be grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation.

(b) Mitigating factors. In determining whether a conviction for a crime renders an applicant or a licensee unfit to be a license holder, the commissioner shall consider, in addition to the factors listed in §84.112 of this title (relating to Effect of Criminal History Information on Applicants and Licensees), the following factors, as specified in Texas Occupations Code, §53.023:

(1) the extent and nature of the principal party's past criminal activity;

(2) the age of the principal party at the time of the commission of the crime;

(3) the time elapsed since the principal party's last criminal activity;

(4) the conduct and work activity of the principal party prior to and following the criminal activity;

(5) the principal party's rehabilitation or rehabilitative effort while incarcerated or after release, or following the criminal activity if no time served; and

(6) the principal party's current circumstances relating to the present fitness of the applicant or licensee, evidence of which may include letters of recommendation from prosecution, law enforcement, and correctional officers who prosecuted, arrested, or had custodial responsibility for the principal party, the sheriff or chief of police in the community where the principal party resides, and other persons in contact with the convicted principal party.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on February 23, 2007.

TRD-200700743

Leslie L. Pettijohn

Commissioner

Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner

Earliest possible date of adoption: April 8, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7640