Bill Text: CA SB985 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Check Sellers, Bill Payers and Proraters Law: exemption: nonprofit community service organizations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-08-19 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 178, Statutes of 2024. [SB985 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB985-Chaptered.html
Senate Bill
No. 985
CHAPTER 178
An act to amend Section 12104 of the Financial Code, relating to financial institutions.
[
Approved by
Governor
August 19, 2024.
Filed with
Secretary of State
August 19, 2024.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 985, Ochoa Bogh.
Check Sellers, Bill Payers and Proraters Law: exemption: nonprofit community service organizations.
The Check Sellers, Bill Payers and Proraters Law (Proraters Law) prohibits, among other things, a person, without first obtaining a license from the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation, from acting as a person who, for compensation, engages in whole or in part in the business of receiving money or evidences thereof for the purpose of distributing the money or evidences thereof among creditors in payment or partial payment of the obligations of the debtor. The Proraters Law exempts from the requirements of the law imposed on proraters a nonprofit community service organization that meets certain criteria, including that the nonprofit community service organization has as its principal functions consumer credit education, counseling on consumer credit problems and family budgets, arranging or administering debt management plans, and arranging or administering debt settlement
plans. The Proraters Law also provides as a criteria for exemption that the nonprofit community service organization receives from a debtor no more than certain amounts to offset the organization’s actual and necessary expenses for those services, including a one-time sum not to exceed $50 for education and counseling combined in connection with debt management or debt settlement services and, for debt management plans, a sum not to exceed 8% of the money disbursed monthly or $35 per month, whichever is less. The Proraters Law provides as a criteria for exemption that the nonprofit community service organization maintains at all times a surety bond in the amount of $25,000 issued by an insurer licensed in this state.
This bill would instead provide as a criteria for exemption from the Proraters Law that the nonprofit community service organization receives from a debtor no more than a one-time sum not to exceed $100 for education and counseling combined in
connection with debt management or debt settlement services and, for debt management plans, a sum not to exceed 15% of the money disbursed monthly or $75 per month, whichever is less. The bill would also revise and recast the requirement for exemption from the Proraters Law that a nonprofit community service organization has as one of its principal functions counseling on consumer credit problems and family budgets to specify that the counseling is via in-person, telephone, and virtual communication. The bill would also increase the surety bond requirement described above from $25,000 to $100,000. By narrowing the scope of nonprofit community service organizations that are exempt from the Proraters Law, a willful violation of which is punishable as a misdemeanor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state.
Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12104 of the Financial Code is amended to read:12104.
A nonprofit community service organization that meets all of the following criteria shall be exempt from any requirements imposed on proraters pursuant to this division:(a) The nonprofit community service organization incorporates in this state or any other state as a nonprofit corporation and operates pursuant to either the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law, Part 2 (commencing with Section 5110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code or the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law, Part 3 (commencing with Section 7110) of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code.
(b) The nonprofit community service organization limits its membership to retailers, lenders in the consumer credit field, educators,
attorneys, social service organizations, employer and employee organizations, and related groups that serve educational, benevolent, fraternal, religious, charitable, social, or reformatory purposes.
(c) The nonprofit community service organization has as its principal functions all of the following:
(1) Consumer credit education.
(2) Counseling on consumer credit problems and family budgets via in-person, telephone, and virtual communication.
(3) Arranging or administering debt management plans. “Debt management plan” means a method of paying debtor’s obligations in installments on a monthly basis.
(4) Arranging or administering debt settlement plans. “Debt settlement plans” means a method of paying debtor’s obligations in a negotiated amount to each creditor on a one-time basis.
(d) (1) The nonprofit community service organization receives from a debtor no more than the following maximum amounts to offset the organization’s actual and necessary expenses for the services described in subdivision (c):
(A) For education and counseling combined in connection with debt management or debt settlement services, a one-time sum not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100).
(B) For debt management plans, a sum not to exceed 15 percent of the money disbursed monthly, or seventy-five dollars ($75) per month, whichever is less.
(C) For debt settlement plans, a sum not to exceed 15 percent of the amount of the
debt forgiven for negotiated debt settlement plans.
(2) A nonprofit community service organization shall not require any upfront payments or deposits on debt settlement plans and may require payment of fees only once the debt has been successfully settled.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, a household shall be considered one debtor.
(4) The fees allowed pursuant to this subdivision shall be the only fees that may be charged by a nonprofit community service organization for any services related to a debt management plan or a debt settlement plan.
(e) The nonprofit community service organization maintains and keeps
current and accurate books, records, and accounts relating to its business in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and stores them in a readily accessible place for a period of no less than five years from the end of the fiscal year in which any transactions occurred.
(f) The nonprofit community service organization deposits any money received from a debtor for the services described in subdivision (c) in a noninterest-bearing trust account in a federally insured state or federal bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, which account is maintained specifically for purposes of administering a debt management plan or debt settlement plan. The nonprofit community service organization shall provide
to the commissioner both of the following before engaging in business in this state and claiming this exemption:
(1) (A) A written notice with the name, address, and telephone number of the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union where the trust account is maintained, and the name of the account and the account number.
(B) The account information required by this paragraph shall be kept confidential pursuant to the laws governing disclosure of public records, including the California Public Records Act, Division 10 (commencing with Section 7920.000) of Title 1 of the Government Code, and the rules adopted thereunder.
(2) An irrevocable written consent providing that upon the commissioner taking possession of the property and business of the nonprofit community service organization, all books, records, property, and business, including trust accounts and any other accounts holding debtors’ funds, shall be immediately turned over to the commissioner or receiver appointed pursuant to this division. The consent shall be signed by the nonprofit community service organization and the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union where the trust account is
maintained. The consent shall be binding upon the nonprofit community service organization and the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, and any objection to it
shall be raised pursuant to the laws of the state and only in the forum in which the proceeding to take possession or appointment of the receiver has been filed. The nonprofit community service organization and the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union shall further consent to the jurisdiction of the commissioner for the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under Sections 12105 and 12106 or any other provision of this division. The consent required by this paragraph shall include the name, title, and signature of an official of the bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union holding the authority to consent on behalf of that institution, and the name, title, and signature of the chief executive officer or
president of the nonprofit community service organization.
(g) (1) The nonprofit community service organization maintains at all times a surety bond in the amount of
one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) issued by an insurer licensed in this state.
(2) The bond required by this
subdivision shall be conditioned upon all of the following:
(A) The obligor faithfully conforming to and abiding by the provisions of this section.
(B) The obligor honestly and faithfully applying all funds received.
(C) The obligor honestly and faithfully performing all obligations and undertakings required under this section.
(D) The obligor paying to the state and to any person all money that becomes due and owing to the state or to any person owed by the obligor of the bond.
(h) The nonprofit community service organization reports all of the following to
the debtor at least once every three months, or upon the debtor’s request, for any debt management plan or debt settlement plan:
(1) Total amount received from the debtor.
(2) Total amount paid to each creditor.
(3) Total amount any creditor has agreed to accept as payment in full on any debt owed by the debtor.
(4) Any amount paid to the organization by the debtor.
(5) Any amount held in reserve.
(i) The nonprofit community service organization submits to the commissioner, at the organization’s expense, an audit report containing audited financial statements covering the calendar year or, if the organization has an
established fiscal year, then for that fiscal year, within 120 days after the close of the calendar or fiscal year.
(j) The nonprofit community service organization submits with the annual financial statements required under subdivision (i) a declaration that conforms to Section 2015.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is executed by an official authorized by the board of the organization, and that states that the organization complies with this section. The annual financial statements shall also include a separate written statement that identifies the name, address, contact person, and telephone number of the organization.
(k) The nonprofit community service organization maintains accreditation by an independent accrediting organization, including either the Council on Accreditation or the International Standards Organization, with sector certification.
(l) The nonprofit community service organization does not engage in any act or practice in violation of Section 17200 or 17500 of the Business and Professions Code.
(m) The nonprofit community service organization inserts the following statement, in not less than 10-point type, in its debt management plan and debt settlement plan agreements: “Complaints related to this agreement may be directed to the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. This nonprofit community service organization has adopted best practices for debt management plans and debt settlement plans, and a copy will be provided upon request.”
(n) The nonprofit community service organization adopts and implements on a continuous basis policies or procedures of best practices that are designed to prevent improper debt management
or debt settlement practices and prevent theft and misappropriation of funds. Failure to do
any of the following shall constitute improper debt management or debt settlement practices, as applicable:
(1) Obtain and maintain counselor certification conducted by a nationally recognized third-party certification program that certifies that all of the
organization’s counselors receive proper training
and continuing education and are qualified to provide financial assistance prior to performing counseling services in this state.
(2) Disburse funds no later than 15 days after receipt of valid funds, or by a scheduled disbursement date, whichever is the greater amount of time.
(3) Transmit funds utilizing electronic payment processing when available.
(4) Implement an inception date policy, which shall include an agreement that a consumer’s first disbursement pursuant to a debt management plan shall be received within 90 days of agreeing to the debt management plan service. The debt management plan shall include all items described in subdivision (h) and shall be provided to the consumer at the inception date of the plan. A description of best practices of the
organization and of the consumer complaint resources shall be issued no later than the first payment date.
(5) Respond to and research any complaint initiated by a consumer within five business days of receipt of the complaint.
(6) Prohibit a policy requiring debt management plan consumers from being required to utilize additional ancillary services.
(7) Provide consumer access to debt management plan services regardless of the consumer’s ability to pay fees related to the debt management plan, lack of creditor participation, or the amount of the consumer’s outstanding debt.
(8) Implement policies that specifically prohibit credit counselors from receiving financial incentives or additional compensation based on
the outcome of the counseling process.
(9) Prohibit the practice of paying referral fees to consumers or other third parties that are contingent upon the enrollment of consumers by the organization.
(10) Disclose in all written contracts with consumers the portion of funding for the
organization that is provided by creditors.
(11) Disclose in all written contracts for debt management plans or debt settlement plans that these plans are not suitable for all consumers and that consumers may request information on other options, including, but not limited to, bankruptcy.
(12) Fully disclose all services to be provided by the organization and any initial and ongoing fees to be charged by the organization for services, including, but
not limited to, contributions to the organization.
(13) Prohibit the organization or any affiliate of the organization from purchasing debt from a consumer.
(14) Prohibit the
organization from offering loans to consumers involving the charging of interest.
(15) Prominently disclose in written contracts with consumers of any financial arrangement between the organization and any lender or any provider of financial services if the organization receives any form of compensation for referring consumers to that lender or provider of financial services.
(16) Provide professional liability insurance coverage.
(17) Provide the debtor a written individualized evaluation of the debtor’s financial status and an initial debt management plan for the debtor’s debts with specific recommendations regarding actions the debtor should take.
(18) (A) Provide the debtor enrolling in a debt management plan a written reliable estimate of the length of time it will take to complete the plan that identifies the total debt owed to each creditor included in the plan, the proposed payment to each creditor, and any fees that would be charged for administering the plan.
(B) The estimate required by this paragraph shall be provided before receipt of the debtor’s first deposit.
(o) The nonprofit community service organization provides a copy of the best practices described in subdivision (n) to its debtor, upon request.
(p) The nonprofit community service organization resolves in a prompt and reasonable manner complaints from debtors relating to the organization’s debt management plans or debt settlement plans.
(q) The nonprofit community service organization provides written notice to the commissioner within 30 days of dissolution or termination of engaging in the activities of a prorater, as defined in Section 12002.1.
(r) This
section shall become inoperative upon the enactment of a statute requiring the licensure and regulation of nonprofit community service organizations providing consumer credit counseling.
