82R5418 JE-D
	By: Raymond	H.B. No. 3502

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the regulation of crafted precious metal dealers and
	dealerships; providing a criminal penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 1956,
	Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER B. [SALE OF] CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL [TO] DEALERS AND
	DEALERSHIPS
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is
	amended by amending Section 1956.051 and adding Sections 1956.0611,
	1956.0612, 1956.0613, 1956.0614, 1956.0615, 1956.0616, 1956.0617,
	1956.0618, 1956.0619, and 1956.06191 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.051.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
	(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
	Licensing and Regulation.
	(2)  "Crafted precious metal" means jewelry,
	silverware, an art object, a bar, [or another object, other than] a
	coin, a [or] commemorative medallion, or another object, including
	scrap or a broken item, made in whole or in part from precious
	metal.
	(3) [(2)]  "Dealer" means a person who engages in the
	business of purchasing and selling crafted precious metal.
	(4)  "Dealership" means a location at which or premises
	in which a dealer conducts business.
	(5) [(3)]  "Department" means the Texas Department of
	Licensing and Regulation [Public Safety].
	(6) [(4)]  "Precious metal" means gold, silver,
	platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, or an
	alloy of those metals.
	Sec. 1956.0611.  RULEMAKING. The commission may adopt rules
	necessary to implement and enforce this subchapter.
	Sec. 1956.0612.  DEALERSHIP LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may
	not engage in business as a crafted precious metal dealer unless the
	person holds a dealership license.
	Sec. 1956.0613.  MULTIPLE PLACES OF BUSINESS. (a) A
	separate dealership license is required for each place of business
	operated under this subchapter.
	(b)  The department may issue more than one dealership
	license to a person if the person complies with this subchapter for
	each license.
	Sec. 1956.0614.  APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) An
	application for a dealership license must be made to the department
	and must:
	(1)  be under oath;
	(2)  state:
	(A)  the full name and address of the applicant;
	(B)  the type of business entity formed by the
	applicant, if the applicant is not an individual;
	(C)  the full name and address of each general
	partner and the type of partnership, if the applicant is a
	partnership;
	(D)  the full name and address of each officer and
	owner, if the applicant is an unincorporated association;
	(E)  except as provided by Subsection (b), the
	full name of each officer and shareholder, if the applicant is a
	corporation;
	(F)  the full name and address of each manager and
	operator of the dealership;
	(G)  the location where the dealership's business
	is to be conducted and a copy of the certificate of occupancy for
	the location;
	(H)  the intended hours of operation of the
	dealership; and
	(I)  other relevant information required by the
	department; and
	(3)  state that the applicant and, if applicable, any
	business partner or officer of the corporation has not had a license
	revoked under this subchapter or Chapter 371, Finance Code.
	(b)  The full name of each shareholder is not required if the
	applicant is a corporation with five or more shareholders.
	Sec. 1956.0615.  FEES. (a)  Except as provided by
	Subsection (b), an applicant must submit with the application:
	(1)  an application fee of:
	(A)  $500, if the applicant does not hold a
	license under this subchapter; or
	(B)  $200, if the application is for an additional
	dealership license for a separate location; and
	(2)  an annual license fee in an amount determined by
	the commission by rule.
	(b)  An applicant that is exempt from taxation under Section
	501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is exempt from the fees
	required under Subsection (a).
	Sec. 1956.0616.  LICENSE TERM; RENEWAL.  A license expires
	on the first anniversary of the date of issuance and may be renewed
	annually on payment of the required annual license fee.
	Sec. 1956.0617.  INVESTIGATION; NOTICE OF APPLICATION.
	(a)  On receipt of an application and the required fees, the
	department shall:
	(1)  conduct an investigation to determine whether to
	issue the license; and
	(2)  give notice of the application to:
	(A)  the Department of Public Safety; and
	(B)  each local law enforcement agency in the
	county in which the dealership is to conduct business.
	(b)  The notice under Subsection (a) must state the name and
	address of each person required by Section 1956.0614 to be listed on
	the license application.
	(c)  The department shall give the Department of Public
	Safety and local law enforcement agencies a reasonable period to
	respond to the notice with information concerning the listed
	persons or any other relevant information.
	Sec. 1956.0618.  NOTICE OF DENIAL; HEARING. (a)  If the
	department determines not to issue a license, the department shall
	deliver to the applicant at the address provided in the application
	a written notice by personal delivery or certified mail, return
	receipt requested. The notice must include the department's reason
	for denying the license.
	(b)  Not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt of
	a notice under Subsection (a), an applicant may request a hearing on
	the application denial. The department shall set the hearing not
	later than the 60th day after the date of the request. A hearing
	under this section is subject to Section 51.354.
	(c)  If the department denies the application, the
	department shall retain the investigation fee and shall return to
	the applicant the annual license fee submitted with the
	application.
	Sec. 1956.0619.  CONTENTS AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE. (a) A
	license must state:
	(1)  the name of the dealer;
	(2)  the address at which the dealership conducts
	business; and
	(3)  that the dealership is authorized to deal in
	crafted precious metals.
	(b)  A dealer shall display a license in a conspicuous
	location at the place of business provided on the license.
	Sec. 1956.06191.  APPLICATION FOR RELOCATION. A dealer who
	wishes to move a dealership from the location authorized by a
	license must file a relocation application with the department not
	later than the 30th day before the date the dealer moves and pay an
	application fee of $20.
	SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 1956.062, Occupations
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.062.  REPORT OF PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE REQUIRED.
	SECTION 4.  Section 1956.062, Occupations Code, is amended
	by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsection
	(c-1) to read as follows:
	(b)  Before crafted precious metal is offered for sale or
	exchange, a dealer must notify each person intending to sell or
	exchange the metal that, before the dealer may accept any of the
	person's property, the person must file with the dealer a list
	describing all of the person's crafted precious metal to be
	accepted by the dealer. The list must contain:
	(1)  the proposed seller's or transferor's name and
	address;
	(2)  the date and time of the purchase or exchange;
	(3)  a complete and accurate description of the crafted
	precious metal, including:
	(A)  a serial number, if available; and
	(B)  the size, weight, material, length, number of
	items, capacity, or other identifying characteristics; and
	(4) [(3)]  the proposed seller's or transferor's
	certification that the information is true and complete.
	(c)  The dealer shall record the proposed seller's or
	transferor's driver's license number or Department of Public Safety
	[department] personal identification certificate number on
	physical presentation of the license or personal identification
	certificate by the seller or transferor. The record must accompany
	the list.
	(c-1)  All lists and records required by this section must be
	legible.
	(d)  The dealer shall:
	(1)  provide to a peace officer or the department, on
	demand, the list required by Subsection (b); and
	(2)  mail or deliver a complete copy of the list to the
	chief of police or the sheriff as provided by Section 1956.063 not
	later than 48 hours after the list is filed with the dealer.
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1956.0635 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.0635.  RECEIPT REQUIRED. (a) A dealer, at the
	time of the sale or exchange of crafted precious metal, shall
	deliver a receipt to the seller or transferor. Each receipt
	delivered by the dealer must:
	(1)  be numbered sequentially;
	(2)  contain the date of the transaction or
	acquisition; and
	(3)  itemize the crafted precious metal purchased or
	exchanged.
	(b)  An accurate copy or record of the receipt shall be:
	(1)  maintained until the third anniversary of the date
	of the sale or exchange; and
	(2)  available on request for inspection during
	business hours by a peace officer or the department.
	SECTION 6.  Section 1956.064, Occupations Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.064.  REQUIRED RETENTION OF CRAFTED PRECIOUS
	METAL. (a) A dealer may not melt, deface, alter, or dispose of
	crafted precious metal that is the subject of a report required by
	this subchapter before the 21st [11th] day after the date the report
	is filed unless:
	(1)  the peace officer to whom the report is submitted,
	for good cause, authorizes disposition of the metal; or
	(2)  [the dealer obtains the name, address, and
	description of the buyer and retains a record of that information;
	or
	[(3)]  the dealer is a pawnbroker and the disposition
	is the redemption of pledged property by the pledgor.
	(b)  During the hold period required by Subsection (a), the
	crafted precious metal shall be stored or displayed:
	(1)  in the exact form received;
	(2)  in a manner as to be identifiable from the
	description provided under Section 1956.062; and
	(3)  in a manner as to not impede or prevent the crafted
	precious metal's examination by a peace officer or the department.
	[A dealer who retains information under Subsection (a)(2) shall
	make that information available for inspection by any peace
	officer.]
	SECTION 7.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1956.0645 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.0645.  STOLEN CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL. (a) A
	dealer or an agent or employee of a dealership shall:
	(1)  monitor the purchase of crafted precious metal to
	identify or prevent transactions involving stolen crafted precious
	metal;
	(2)  make reasonable efforts to avoid accepting or
	purchasing stolen crafted precious metal; and
	(3)  immediately report to a local law enforcement
	agency:
	(A)  an offer to sell to the dealership crafted
	precious metal actually known or reasonably suspected to be stolen;
	(B)  the identity, if known, and the description
	of the person offering to sell the metal described by Paragraph (A);
	and
	(C)  the purchase of crafted precious metal
	subsequently determined or reasonably suspected to be stolen.
	(b)  A dealer shall cooperate with a local law enforcement
	agency regarding any matter relating to stolen crafted precious
	metal and assist in the prompt resolution of an official
	investigation.
	SECTION 8.  The heading to Section 1956.065, Occupations
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1956.065.  INSPECTION OF CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL [BY
	PEACE OFFICER].
	SECTION 9.  Section 1956.065(a), Occupations Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A dealer shall make crafted precious metal purchased by
	the dealer available for inspection by a peace officer or the
	department during regular business hours while in the dealer's
	possession.
	SECTION 10.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code,
	is amended by adding Sections 1956.0685 and 1956.0686 to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 1956.0685.  GROUNDS FOR DENIAL, REVOCATION, OR
	SUSPENSION OF LICENSE.  The department may deny, revoke, or suspend
	a dealership license if the dealer:
	(1)  violates this subchapter or a rule adopted or an
	order issued under this subchapter;
	(2)  falsifies information on a license application; or
	(3)  is convicted of an offense under Section 31.03,
	37.09, or 37.10, Penal Code.
	Sec. 1956.0686.  NOTICE OF HEARING. (a) The department
	shall send written notice to the dealer of a dealership license
	revocation or suspension hearing that includes the cause or
	allegations of the revocation or suspension hearing.
	(b)  A hearing under this section is subject to Subchapter G,
	Chapter 51.
	SECTION 11.  Section 1956.069(a), Occupations Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person violates this
	subchapter [dealer commits an offense if the dealer:
	[(1)     fails to make or permit inspection of a report as
	required by Section 1956.062 or 1956.063;
	[(2)     disposes of crafted precious metal or fails to
	make a record available for inspection by a peace officer as
	required by Section 1956.064;
	[(3)     fails to obtain or retain a statement as required
	by Section 1956.066;
	[(4)     fails to file a registration statement as
	required by Section 1956.067; or
	[(5)     purchases an object in violation of Section
	1956.068].
	SECTION 12.  Section 215.031, Local Government Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 215.031.  HAWKERS; PEDDLERS; PAWNBROKERS; CRAFTED
	PRECIOUS METAL DEALERS. The governing body of the municipality may
	license, tax, suppress, prevent, or otherwise regulate:
	(1)  hawkers;
	(2)  peddlers; [and]
	(3)  pawnbrokers; and
	(4)  crafted precious metal dealers.
	SECTION 13.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
	date of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation
	shall adopt the rules and procedures necessary to implement
	Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, as amended by this
	Act.
	(b)  A crafted precious metal dealer is not required to hold
	a license under Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, as
	amended by this Act, before March 1, 2012.
	(c)  Section 1956.069, Occupations Code, as amended by this
	Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective
	date of this Act.  An offense committed before the effective date of
	this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was
	committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
	purpose.  For purposes of this subsection, an offense was committed
	before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense
	occurred before that date.
	SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.