PAWNBROKER FEES: CLARIFY

House Bill 4823 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Rich Brown

Committee:  Banking and Financial Services

Complete to 6-6-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4823 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON 6-1-05

The bill would amend Public Act 273 of 1917, which regulates pawnbrokers, to specify that a pawnbroker can charge a person who has pawned unencumbered personal property either of the following: a monthly storage fee or a monthly usage fee.  The usage and storage fees would not be considered interest. 

The bill also contains updated language regarding recordkeeping by pawnbrokers.

[Public Act 585 of 2004— House Bill 6029 — amended  Public Act 273 of 1917 to allow a person who pawned and pledged unencumbered personal property to maintain possession of the property and continue to use it, with the pawnbroker allowed to charge a usage fee of $1 per month.  This usage fee was a new fee created by Public Act 585.  The storage fee already existed in law.  Both are in addition to the three percent per month interest that can be charged on a loan.]

MCL 446.208 and 446.209

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would not appear to have any fiscal impact on sate or local government. 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Richard Child

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.