SENATE BILL No. 431

 

 

June 6, 2017, Introduced by Senators GREGORY, JOHNSON, BIEDA and ROBERTSON and referred to the Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions.

 

 

     A bill to regulate the business of providing certain small

 

loans; to require the licensing of providers of small loans; to

 

prescribe powers and duties of certain state agencies and

 

officials; and to prescribe penalties and provide remedies.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

                              ARTICLE 1

 

           SHORT TITLE, DEFINITIONS, AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

     Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "small

 

loan regulatory act".

 

     Sec. 3. As used in this act:

 

     (a) "Applicant" means a person that is seeking a license to

 

engage in the business of providing small loans under this act.

 

     (b) "Borrower" means a customer who enters into a small loan

 

transaction under article 2.

 


     (c) "Closed" means, in connection with a small loan, that the

 

loan is fully paid or satisfied.

 

     (d) "Consumer reporting agency" means that term as defined in

 

the security freeze act, 2013 PA 229, MCL 445.2512.

 

     (e) "Customer" means an individual who requests information

 

about the availability of, or applies for, a small loan or who

 

enters into a small loan agreement with a licensee.

 

     (f) "Database provider" means 1 of the following:

 

     (i) A third party provider selected by the director under

 

section 19 to operate the statewide database described in that

 

section.

 

     (ii) If the director has not selected a third party provider

 

under section 19, the director.

 

     (g) "Deferred presentment service transaction" means that term

 

as defined in section 2 of the deferred presentment service

 

transactions act, 2005 PA 244, MCL 487.2122.

 

     (h) "Department" means the department of insurance and

 

financial services.

 

     (i) "Director" means the director of the department or his or

 

her authorized representative.

 

     (j) "Executive officer" means an officer or director of a

 

licensee or any other individual who has the authority to

 

participate in the direction, directly or indirectly, through 1 or

 

more persons, or the management or policies of a licensee.

 

     (k) "Financial licensing act" means this act or any of the

 

financial licensing acts as defined in section 2 of the consumer

 

financial services act, 1988 PA 161, MCL 487.2052.


     (l) "Licensee" means a person that is licensed to engage in

 

the business of providing small loans under this act.

 

     (m) "Maturity date" means the date a small loan, or the last

 

installment of the loan, is due.

 

     (n) "Maximum loan amount" means 1 of the following:

 

     (i) If subparagraph (ii) does not apply, $2,500.00.

 

     (ii) If a borrower has an outstanding deferred presentment

 

service transaction at the time he or she applies for a small loan,

 

$2,500.00 less the amount of the outstanding deferred presentment

 

service transaction.

 

     (o) "Person" means an individual, partnership, association,

 

corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity

 

except a governmental entity.

 

     (p) With respect to an existing small loan, "renewal" means

 

renewing, repaying, refinancing, or consolidating an existing small

 

loan with the proceeds of either of the following:

 

     (i) Another small loan.

 

     (ii) A deferred presentment service transaction.

 

     (q) "Simple interest" means a method of calculating interest

 

in which the amount of interest is calculated based on the annual

 

interest rate disclosed in the loan agreement and is computed only

 

on the outstanding principal balance of the loan.

 

     (r) "Small loan" means a loan that is made by a licensee to an

 

individual that meets all of the following:

 

     (i) The loan is made for personal, family, or household use.

 

     (ii) The principal amount of the loan does not exceed the

 

maximum loan amount.


     (iii) The maturity date for the loan is not more than 730 days

 

after the date of the transaction.

 

     (iv) The loan is unsecured and payable in installments.

 

     Sec. 5. (1) Subject to subsection (3), beginning June 1, 2018,

 

a person shall not engage in the business of providing small loans,

 

through any method, including, but not limited to, mail, telephone,

 

internet, mobile device application, or in person, without a

 

license under this act.

 

     (2) A person may engage in the business of providing small

 

loans and deferred presentment service transactions at a single

 

location under separate licenses. A separate license is required

 

for each location from which the business of providing small loans

 

is conducted.

 

     (3) This act does not apply to a state or nationally chartered

 

bank or a state or federally chartered savings and loan

 

association, savings bank, or credit union whose deposits or member

 

accounts are insured by an agency of the United States government.

 

This act does not apply to a person that is licensed or registered

 

under a financial licensing act and is authorized to make small

 

loans under that financial licensing act.

 

     (4) Within 90 days after the effective date of this act, the

 

director by administrative bulletin, order, or rule shall establish

 

an application process and an application timeline for license

 

applications under this act.

 

     Sec. 7. To obtain a license, an applicant shall satisfy all of

 

the following requirements:

 

     (a) Have and maintain net worth of at least $50,000.00 for


each licensed location, subject to a maximum of $250,000.00 in

 

required net worth for any 1 licensee, determined in accordance

 

with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

     (b) Demonstrate to the director that the applicant has the

 

financial responsibility, financial condition, business experience,

 

character, and general fitness to reasonably warrant a belief that

 

the applicant will conduct its business lawfully and fairly. In

 

determining whether this subdivision is satisfied, and for the

 

purpose of investigating compliance with this act, the director may

 

review any of the following:

 

     (i) The relevant business records and the capital adequacy of

 

the applicant.

 

     (ii) The competence, experience, integrity, and financial

 

ability of any person who is a member, partner, executive officer,

 

or a shareholder with 10% or more interest in the applicant.

 

     (iii) Any record regarding the applicant, or any person

 

referred to in subparagraph (ii), of any criminal activity, fraud,

 

or other act of personal dishonesty, any act, omission, or practice

 

that constitutes a breach of a fiduciary duty, or any suspension,

 

removal, or administrative action by any agency or department of

 

the United States or any state.

 

     Sec. 9. (1) An applicant shall submit an application for a

 

license to the director. Each application for a license shall be in

 

writing and under oath, in a form prescribed by the director, and

 

shall include all of the following information:

 

     (a) The name, street address, and telephone number of the

 

business location within this state from which the applicant will


offer small loans, if available.

 

     (b) The legal name, residence, street address, and telephone

 

number and business address of the applicant and, if the applicant

 

is not an individual, of each executive officer and each person who

 

directly or indirectly owns or controls 10% or more of the

 

ownership interest in the applicant.

 

     (c) If the applicant will not operate a physical business

 

location in this state or if in addition to the location described

 

in subdivision (a) the applicant will make small loans by other

 

means, a detailed description of the manner in which small loans

 

will be offered to customers in this state.

 

     (d) Any other information the director considers necessary

 

under this act.

 

     (2) An applicant shall include an application fee in an amount

 

determined by the director with the application described in

 

subsection (1).

 

     Sec. 11. (1) A licensee shall pay a license fee, in an amount

 

determined by the director under subsection (2), within 60 days of

 

submitting its license application, and then annually.

 

     (2) The director shall annually establish a schedule of

 

license fees based upon each licensee's business volume, number of

 

locations, and any other business factors considered reasonable by

 

the director in order to generate funds sufficient to pay, but not

 

to exceed, the department's reasonably anticipated costs of

 

administering this act. A licensee shall pay the actual travel,

 

lodging, and meal expenses incurred by department employees who

 

travel out of state to examine the records of or investigate the


licensee. A department employee who travels under this subsection

 

shall comply with all travel regulations and rate schedules

 

currently in effect for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by

 

classified state employees in connection with official state

 

business.

 

     (3) Money received under this act shall be deposited in an

 

interest bearing account in the state treasury and credited to the

 

department to be used only for the operation of the department.

 

     (4) In addition to the license fee required under subsection

 

(1), except as provided in this subsection, a licensee shall

 

furnish a $50,000.00 surety bond to secure the performance of its

 

obligations, issued by a bonding company or insurance company

 

authorized to do business in this state and in a form satisfactory

 

to the director. However, if 1 person owns 20% or more of the

 

ownership interest in 2 or more licensees, the group of licensees

 

having that common ownership is only obligated to furnish one

 

$50,000.00 surety bond.

 

     Sec. 13. (1) After the director receives a completed license

 

application, the director shall investigate to determine whether

 

the requirements of this act are satisfied. If the director finds

 

that the requirements of this act are satisfied, the director shall

 

issue to the applicant a license to engage in small loans.

 

     (2) A licensee shall post a copy of its license in a

 

conspicuous location at the place of business of the licensee.

 

     Sec. 15. (1) A license issued under this article is not

 

transferable or assignable.

 

     (2) The prior written approval of the director is required for


the continued operation of a licensee if there is a change in

 

control of that licensee. The director may require information

 

considered necessary to determine whether a new application is

 

required. The person that requests the approval shall pay the cost

 

incurred by the director in investigating the change of control

 

request.

 

     (3) A licensee shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) At least 15 days before providing small loans at any new

 

location or under section 9(1)(c), provide written notice to the

 

director on a form prescribed by the director of the name, street

 

address, and telephone number of the new location or the detailed

 

description required in section 9(1)(c).

 

     (b) At least 15 days before discontinuing small loans at any

 

existing location or under section 9(1)(c), provide written notice

 

to the director on a form prescribed by the director of the name,

 

street address, and telephone number of the discontinued location

 

or the detailed description of the services required in section

 

9(1)(c).

 

     (4) A licensee shall comply with any request for information

 

or documentation made by the director under this act and shall

 

comply with any reasonable written time deadlines imposed by the

 

director on that request.

 

     (5) As used in this section, "control" means 1 of the

 

following:

 

     (a) For a corporation, direct or indirect ownership of, or the

 

right to control, 10% or more of the voting shares of the

 

corporation, or the ability of a person to elect a majority of the


directors or otherwise effect a change in policy.

 

     (b) For any entity other than a corporation, the ability to

 

change the principals of the organization, whether active or

 

passive.

 

     Sec. 17. A license issued under this article shall expire on

 

September 30 of each year unless earlier suspended, surrendered, or

 

revoked under this act. A licensee may renew a license for a 12-

 

month period by submitting a complete application that shows

 

continued compliance with this act, in a form prescribed by the

 

director, and paying the license renewal fee to the director. The

 

licensee shall submit a renewal application under this subsection

 

on or before August 1 and the director shall proceed in the manner

 

described in section 13(1).

 

     Sec. 19. (1) Before June 1, 2018, the director shall develop,

 

implement, and maintain a statewide common database that has real-

 

time access through an internet connection, is accessible at all

 

time to licensees and to the director for purposes of subsections

 

(10) and (11), and meets the requirements of this section. The

 

director may, in his or her discretion, develop, implement, and

 

maintain this database as a separate database from the deferred

 

presentment service transactions database described in section 22

 

of the deferred presentment service transactions act, 2005 PA 244,

 

MCL 487.2142, or as part of that deferred presentment service

 

transactions database.

 

     (2) The director may operate the database described in

 

subsection (1) or may select and contract with a single third party

 

provider to operate the database. If the director contracts with a


third party provider for the operation of the database, all of the

 

following apply:

 

     (a) The director shall ensure that the third party provider

 

selected as the database provider operates the database pursuant to

 

the provisions of this act.

 

     (b) The director shall consider cost of service and ability to

 

meet all the requirements of this section in selecting a third

 

party provider as the database provider.

 

     (c) In selecting a third party provider to act as the database

 

provider, the director shall give strong consideration to the third

 

party provider's ability to prevent fraud, abuse, and other

 

unlawful activity associated with small loan transactions and

 

provide additional tools for the administration and enforcement of

 

this act.

 

     (d) The third party provider shall only use the data collected

 

under this act in the manner described in this act and the contract

 

with the department and for no other purpose.

 

     (e) If the third party provider violates this section, the

 

director shall terminate the contract and the third party provider

 

is barred from becoming a party to any other state contracts.

 

     (f) A person injured by the third party provider's violation

 

of this act may maintain a civil cause of action against the third

 

party provider and may recover actual damages plus reasonable

 

attorney fees.

 

     (3) The database described in subsection (1) shall allow a

 

licensee accessing the database to do all of the following:

 

     (a) Verify whether a customer has any open small loans with


any licensee that have not been closed.

 

     (b) Provide information necessary to ensure licensee

 

compliance with any requirements imposed by the federal Office of

 

Foreign Asset Control under federal law.

 

     (c) Track and monitor the number of customers who notify a

 

licensee of violations of this act, the number of times a licensee

 

agreed that a violation occurred, the number of times that a

 

licensee did not agree that a violation occurred, the amount of

 

restitution paid, and any other information the director requires

 

by rule.

 

     (4) While operating the database, the database provider shall

 

do all of the following:

 

     (a) Establish and maintain a process for responding to

 

transaction verification requests due to technical difficulties

 

occurring with the database that prevent the licensee from

 

accessing the database through the internet.

 

     (b) Comply with any applicable provisions of the social

 

security number privacy act, 2004 PA 454, MCL 445.81 to 445.87.

 

     (c) Comply with any applicable provisions of the identity

 

theft protection act, 2004 PA 452, MCL 445.61 to 445.79d.

 

     (d) Provide accurate and secure receipt, transmission, and

 

storage of customer data.

 

     (e) Meet the requirements of this act.

 

     (5) When the database provider receives notification that a

 

small loan is closed, the database provider shall designate the

 

loan as closed in the database immediately, but in no event after

 

11:59 p.m. on the day the director or database provider receives


notification.

 

     (6) The database provider shall automatically designate a

 

small loan as closed in the database 5 days after the transaction

 

maturity date unless a licensee reports to the database provider

 

before that time that the loan remains open because of the

 

customer's failure to make payment. If a licensee reports the

 

status of a loan as open in a timely manner, the transaction

 

remains an open transaction until it is closed and the database

 

provider is notified that the loan is closed.

 

     (7) If a licensee stops providing small loans, the database

 

provider shall designate all open loans with that licensee as

 

closed in the database 60 days after the date the licensee stops

 

offering small loans, unless the licensee reports to the database

 

provider before the expiration of the 60-day period which of its

 

loans remain open and the specific reason each loan remains open.

 

The licensee shall also provide to the director a reasonably

 

acceptable plan that outlines how the licensee will continue to

 

update the database after it stops offering small loans. The

 

director shall promptly approve or disapprove the plan and

 

immediately notify the licensee of his or her decision. If the plan

 

is disapproved, the licensee may submit a new plan or may submit a

 

modified plan for the licensee to follow. If at any time the

 

director reasonably determines that a licensee that has stopped

 

offering small loans is not updating the database in accordance

 

with its approved plan, the director shall immediately close or

 

instruct the database provider to immediately close all remaining

 

open small loans of that licensee.


     (8) The response to an inquiry to the database provider by a

 

licensee shall only state that a person is eligible or ineligible

 

for a new small loan and describe the reason for that

 

determination. Only the person seeking the small loan may make a

 

direct inquiry to the database provider to request a more detailed

 

explanation of a particular loan that was the basis for the

 

ineligibility determination. Any information regarding any person's

 

loan history is confidential, is not subject to public inspection,

 

is not a public record subject to the disclosure requirements of

 

the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246,

 

is not subject to discovery, subpoena, or other compulsory process

 

except in an action under section 31, and shall not be disclosed to

 

any person other than the director.

 

     (9) The database provider may charge licensees a verification

 

fee for access to the database, in amounts approved by the

 

director.

 

     (10) The director may access the database provided under

 

subsection (1) only for purposes of an investigation of,

 

examination of, or enforcement action concerning an individual

 

database provider, licensee, customer, or other person. The

 

director and any employees of the director, the department, or this

 

state shall not obtain or access a customer's social security

 

number, driver license number, or other state-issued identification

 

number in the database except as provided in this subsection. An

 

individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor

 

punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of

 

not more than $1,000.00, or both, and if convicted, an individual


who violates this subsection shall be dismissed from office or

 

discharged from employment.

 

     (11) The director shall investigate violations of and enforce

 

this section. The director shall not delegate its responsibilities

 

under this subsection to any third party provider.

 

     (12) The director shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Require by rule that data are retained in the database

 

only as required to ensure licensee compliance with this act.

 

     (b) Require by rule that data in the database concerning a

 

customer's small loan are archived within 365 days after the loan

 

is closed unless needed for a pending enforcement action.

 

     (c) Require by rule that any identifying customer information

 

is deleted from the database when data are archived.

 

     (d) Require by rule that data in the database concerning a

 

customer's small loan are deleted from the database 3 years after

 

the loan is closed or any enforcement action pending 3 years after

 

the loan is closed is completed, whichever is later.

 

     (13) The director may maintain access to data archived under

 

subsection (12) for future legislative or policy review.

 

                              ARTICLE 2

 

                             SMALL LOANS

 

     Sec. 21. (1) A licensee may enter into a small loan with a

 

customer for any amount that does not exceed the maximum loan

 

amount.

 

     (2) Subject to subsection (3), a licensee may contract for and

 

receive a monthly finance loan charge for a small loan that meets

 

both of the following:


     (a) Does not exceed the aggregate of the following, as

 

applicable:

 

     (i) Fifteen percent of the first $500.00 of the original

 

principal amount of the loan.

 

     (ii) Fourteen percent of the second $500.00 of the original

 

principal amount of the loan.

 

     (iii) Thirteen percent of the third $500.00 of the original

 

principal amount of the loan.

 

     (iv) Twelve percent of the fourth $500.00 of the original

 

principal amount of the loan.

 

     (v) Eleven percent of the fifth $500.00 of the original

 

principal amount of the loan.

 

     (b) Is earned by the licensee on a daily basis using the

 

simple interest method.

 

     (3) All of the following apply for purposes of calculating a

 

monthly finance loan charge under subsection (2):

 

     (a) The term of a small loan commences on the date on which

 

the loan is made.

 

     (b) A "month" is considered a period that extends from a

 

specific date in 1 calendar month to 1 of the following, as

 

applicable:

 

     (i) The same date in the succeeding calendar month.

 

     (ii) If there is no same date in the succeeding calendar

 

month, the last day of the succeeding calendar month.

 

     (c) In calculating a monthly finance charge, any differences

 

in lengths of months are disregarded and each day is counted as

 

one-thirtieth of a month.


     (4) A licensee may obtain, other than as a condition for the

 

extension of the small loan, the borrower's written authorization

 

to electronically debit the borrower's account for scheduled

 

automatic payments, or if there is a default under an agreement

 

between the borrower and the licensee that is in compliance with

 

the requirements of 12 CFR part 1005, commonly known as Regulation

 

E.

 

     (5) In connection with a payment owed in connection with a

 

default described in subsection (4), a scheduled automatic payment

 

described in subsection (4), or a payment made by electronic debit

 

under section 23(2)(i), if a financial institution refuses to

 

process the payment because there are insufficient funds in the

 

account, the licensee may attempt to collect the payment by means

 

of 1 or more electronic debit transactions processed through an

 

automated clearinghouse, as that term is defined in section 1 of

 

2002 PA 738, MCL 124.301. However, if the licensee makes 2

 

consecutive attempts to collect the payment by electronic debit

 

transactions under this subsection, the licensee shall not make any

 

additional attempts to collect that payment through an electronic

 

debit transaction unless the licensee notifies the borrower of the

 

financial institution's refusal to process the payment because

 

there were insufficient funds in the account and obtains written

 

authorization from the borrower before the licensee makes any

 

additional attempts to collect that payment through an electronic

 

debit transaction.

 

     (6) If a borrower makes a small loan payment by check and the

 

check is deposited by the licensee and returned unpaid, the


licensee may collect the check by means of 1 or more telephone-

 

initiated entries if all of the following are met:

 

     (a) The borrower agrees to each telephone-initiated entry.

 

     (b) Each telephone-initiated entry is a single, date-specific

 

payment and does not authorize more than 1 payment or periodic

 

payments.

 

     (c) The licensee does not charge the borrower a fee in

 

connection with the telephone-initiated entry or entries.

 

     Sec. 22. (1) At the time it makes a small loan, a licensee

 

shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Before the borrower signs the loan agreement, provide the

 

following notice to the borrower, in a document separate from the

 

loan agreement and in at least 12-point type:

 

     "1. After signing this loan agreement, if you believe that we

 

have violated the law, you may do 1 of the following:

 

     a. Before the close of business on the day you sign the loan

 

agreement, notify us in person of the violation. You must provide

 

supporting documents or other evidence of the violation.

 

     b. At any time before signing a new small loan agreement with

 

us, notify us in writing of the violation. Your written notice must

 

state the violation and provide supporting documents or other

 

evidence of the violation.

 

     2. We have 3 business days to determine if we agree that we

 

have violated the law and let you know of that determination.

 

     3. If we do not agree that we have violated the law, we may

 

take other legal steps to collect our money.

 

     4. If you still believe we violated the law, you may file a


written complaint including supporting documents or other evidence

 

with the Department of Insurance and Financial Services. The

 

Department is required to investigate your complaint and has the

 

authority to order us to pay you restitution if they agree that we

 

violated the law. In addition, the Department can order us to pay

 

civil fines or take away our right to do business. To do so,

 

contact the Department of Insurance and Financial Services toll-

 

free at 1-877-999-6442.".

 

     (b) Provide a copy of the signed loan agreement to the

 

borrower.

 

     (c) Pay the proceeds under the loan agreement to the borrower

 

by delivering a business check of the licensee, or a money order,

 

as requested by the borrower.

 

     (d) Issue a payment schedule in which the payments on the

 

small loan are due in substantially equal and consecutive

 

installments, subject to any adjustments that the licensee may

 

reasonably establish with respect to the first payment due.

 

     (2) At the time of entering into a small loan, a licensee

 

shall not do any of the following:

 

     (a) Include a maturity date that is more than 730 days after

 

the date of the transaction.

 

     (b) Charge an additional fee for cashing the licensee's

 

business check or money order if the licensee pays the proceeds to

 

the borrower by business check or money order.

 

     (c) Include a confession of judgment in the loan agreement.

 

     (d) Except as provided in this act, charge or collect any

 

other fees for a small loan.


     (e) Enter into a small loan with a borrower if the total of

 

the scheduled payments for the small loan, and if the borrower has

 

an outstanding deferred presentment service transaction, any

 

scheduled payments under the terms of that transaction, due in any

 

single month exceeds 20% of the borrower's monthly gross income.

 

For purposes of determining a borrower's monthly gross income under

 

this subdivision, a licensee shall obtain and maintain third party

 

verification of all income considered in making the determination.

 

Third party verification is subject to review and approval of the

 

director.

 

     (3) A licensee shall not enter into a renewal of an existing

 

small loan with a borrower. However, if a small loan is paid in

 

full, a subsequent small loan is not considered a renewal under

 

this subsection.

 

     (4) A licensee shall not require a borrower to secure a small

 

loan with real or personal property.

 

     (5) A licensee shall not refuse to provide a small loan to a

 

customer solely because the customer has exercised his or her

 

rights under this act.

 

     (6) If a licensee is providing small loans, then the licensee

 

shall post a notice, printed in boldfaced, 36-point type, in a

 

conspicuous location at each customer service window, station, or

 

desk at each place of business, that states the following:

 

     "The cost of your small loan may be higher than loans offered

 

by other lending institutions. A borrower may rescind a small loan

 

without cost by paying the amount of the principal of the small

 

loan to the licensee not later than the end of the business day


immediately following the day on which the small loan was made.".

 

     (7) A licensee that conducts small loan transactions on the

 

internet shall post the notice described in subsection (6) in a

 

prominent and conspicuous place on its internet website that is

 

fully accessible to its customers and the public.

 

     Sec. 23. (1) A licensee shall document a small loan by

 

entering into a written small loan agreement signed by both the

 

customer and the licensee.

 

     (2) A licensee shall include all of the following in a written

 

small loan agreement:

 

     (a) The name of the customer.

 

     (b) The name, street address, facsimile number, and telephone

 

number of the licensee.

 

     (c) The signature and printed or typed name of the individual

 

who enters into the small loan agreement on behalf of the licensee.

 

     (d) The date of the transaction.

 

     (e) The amount of the small loan.

 

     (f) An itemization of the fees to be paid by the customer.

 

     (g) A calculation of the cost of the fees and charges to the

 

customer, expressed as a percentage rate per year.

 

     (h) A clear description of the customer's payment obligation

 

under the loan agreement.

 

     (i) A provision that allows a borrower to use cash, checks, or

 

other immediately available funds to make payments on the small

 

loan, or, with the borrower's voluntary authorization, through an

 

electronic debit of a deposit account of the borrower.

 

     (j) A provision that allows the borrower to prepay in full the


unpaid balance of the small loan at any time without any additional

 

interest or penalty.

 

     (k) A schedule of all fees associated with the small loan and

 

an example of the amounts the customer would pay based on the

 

amount of the small loan.

 

     (l) The maturity date.

 

     (m) A description of the process a borrower may use to file a

 

complaint against the licensee.

 

     (n) A provision that allows the borrower to rescind the small

 

loan without cost by paying the amount of the principal of the

 

small loan to the licensee not later than the end of the business

 

day immediately following the day on which the small loan is made.

 

     Sec. 24. Before it makes any small loans under this act, a

 

licensee must establish reasonable policies and procedures for

 

evaluating the creditworthiness of borrowers and determining a

 

borrower's capability for repaying a small loan.

 

     Sec. 25. For each small loan made under this act, a licensee

 

must report the terms of the loan and the borrower's performance

 

under those terms to a consumer reporting agency.

 

     Sec. 26. (1) In the event of a default under a loan agreement

 

between a licensee and a borrower, the licensee shall not

 

accelerate the maturity of a small loan or commence any collection

 

action except as provided in this section.

 

     (2) If an overdue payment is not satisfied within 10 days

 

after its due date, the licensee must notify the borrower of the

 

default and the borrower has a right to cure the default under

 

subsection (3).


     (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), a borrower who has

 

received a notice of default under subsection (2) may cure the

 

default within 20 days after the date of the notice. All of the

 

following apply to the cure of a default under this section:

 

     (a) The borrower may cure the default by paying the amount of

 

all unpaid installments due at the time of payment.

 

     (b) If the borrower makes the payment described in subdivision

 

(a), the licensee shall not accelerate the full loan balance and

 

require the immediate payment of that balance.

 

     (c) The act of curing a default under this subsection restores

 

to the borrower the borrower's rights under the loan agreement as

 

though no default had occurred.

 

     (4) A borrower does not have a right to cure a default under

 

this section if all of the following occurred during the 12-month

 

period before the date of the default:

 

     (a) The customer had previously defaulted in the same loan

 

transaction.

 

     (b) The licensee gave the customer notice of the right to cure

 

that previous default under subsection (2).

 

     (c) The customer cured the previous default under subsection

 

(3).

 

     (5) If a borrower does not cure a default within 20 days of

 

receiving the notice required under subsection (2), the remaining

 

loan balance and any accrued finance loan charges are immediately

 

due. Finance loan charges under section 21(2) shall not accrue

 

after the date a loan balance becomes due under this subsection.

 

However, after that date, the licensee may charge and collect post-


default interest on the amount of the loan balance and accrued

 

finance charges, at a rate that does not exceed 20% per annum.

 

                              ARTICLE 3

 

                   ENFORCEMENT, PENALTIES, REMEDIES

 

     Sec. 31. (1) A customer may file a written complaint with the

 

department on a form prescribed by the director regarding a

 

licensee. The customer shall include with the complaint documentary

 

or other evidence of the violation or activities of the licensee.

 

The director shall investigate a complaint filed by a customer

 

under this subsection.

 

     (2) The director may investigate or conduct examinations of a

 

licensee and conduct hearings as the director considers necessary

 

to determine whether a licensee or any other person has violated

 

this act, or whether a licensee has conducted business in a manner

 

that justifies suspension or forfeiture of its authority to engage

 

in the business of providing small loans in this state.

 

     (3) The director may subpoena witnesses and documents, papers,

 

books, records, and other evidence in any manner over which the

 

director has jurisdiction, control, or supervision. The director

 

may administer oaths to any person whose testimony is required. If

 

a person fails to comply with a subpoena issued by the director or

 

to testify with respect to any matter concerning which the person

 

may be lawfully questioned, the director may petition the circuit

 

court for Ingham County to issue an order requiring the person to

 

attend, give testimony, or produce evidence.

 

     Sec. 33. A person injured by a licensee's violation of this

 

act may maintain a civil cause of action against the licensee and


may recover actual damages and an amount equal to the service fee

 

paid in connection with each small loan that is found to violate

 

this act, plus reasonable attorney fees.

 

     Enacting section 1. This act takes effect 90 days after the

 

date it is enacted into law.

 

     Enacting section 2. This act does not take effect unless

 

Senate Bill No. 432                                                

 

of the 99th Legislature is enacted into law.