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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of crafted precious metal dealers and |
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dealerships; providing a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, |
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Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER B. [SALE OF] CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL [TO] DEALERS AND |
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DEALERSHIPS |
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SECTION 2. Section 1956.051, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of |
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Licensing and Regulation. |
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(2) "Crafted precious metal" means jewelry, |
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silverware, an art object, or another object, made wholly or partly |
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from precious metal, other than a coin, a bar, a [or] commemorative |
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medallion, or scrap or a broken item selling at not more than five |
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percent more than the scrap value of the item [made in whole or in
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part from precious metal]. |
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(3) [(2)] "Dealer" means a person who engages in the |
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business of purchasing and selling crafted precious metal, |
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including purchases or sales made through the mail. |
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(4) "Dealership" means a location at which or premises |
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in which a dealer conducts business. |
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(5) [(3)] "Department" means the Texas Department of |
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Licensing and Regulation [Public Safety]. |
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(6) "Personal identification document" means a |
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document that contains a photograph of the seller or transferor and |
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is: |
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(A) a state driver's license; |
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(B) a state identification card; |
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(C) a passport; |
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(D) a military identification; |
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(E) a certificate of identification from the |
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Mexican Consulate, certificado de matricula consular; or |
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(F) identification issued by the agency of the |
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United States responsible for citizenship and immigration. |
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(7) [(4)] "Precious metal" means gold, silver, |
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platinum, palladium, iridium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, or an |
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alloy of those metals. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1956.060, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.060. EXCEPTION: CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL ACQUIRED |
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BY PERSON LICENSED UNDER TEXAS PAWNSHOP ACT. This subchapter does |
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not apply to crafted precious metal acquired by a person or an |
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employee of a person licensed under Chapter 371, Finance Code. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 1956.0611, 1956.0612, 1956.0613, |
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1956.0614, 1956.0615, 1956.0616, 1956.0617, 1956.0618, 1956.0619, |
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and 1956.06191 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.0611. RULEMAKING. The commission may adopt rules |
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necessary to implement and enforce this subchapter. |
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Sec. 1956.0612. DEALERSHIP LICENSE REQUIRED. A person may |
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not engage in business as a crafted precious metal dealer unless the |
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person holds a dealership license. |
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Sec. 1956.0613. MULTIPLE PLACES OF BUSINESS. (a) A |
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separate dealership license is required for each place of business |
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operated under this subchapter. |
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(b) The department may issue more than one dealership |
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license to a person if the person complies with this subchapter for |
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each license. |
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Sec. 1956.0614. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. (a) An |
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application for a dealership license must be made to the department |
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and must: |
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(1) be under oath; |
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(2) state: |
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(A) the full name and address of the applicant; |
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(B) the type of business entity formed by the |
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applicant, if the applicant is not an individual; |
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(C) the full name and address of each general |
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partner and the type of partnership, if the applicant is a |
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partnership; |
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(D) the full name and address of each officer and |
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owner, if the applicant is an unincorporated association; |
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(E) except as provided by Subsection (b), the |
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full name of each officer and shareholder, if the applicant is a |
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corporation; |
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(F) the full name and address of each manager and |
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operator of the dealership; |
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(G) the location where the dealership's business |
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is to be conducted and: |
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(i) a copy of the certificate of occupancy |
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for the location; and |
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(ii) proof of the applicant's ownership of |
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the property or a copy of a lease agreement for the lease of the |
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property; |
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(H) the intended hours of operation of the |
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dealership; and |
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(I) other relevant information required by the |
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department; and |
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(3) state that the applicant and, if applicable, any |
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business partner or officer of the corporation has not had a license |
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revoked under this subchapter or Chapter 371, Finance Code. |
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(b) The full name of each shareholder is not required if the |
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applicant is a corporation with five or more shareholders. |
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(c) If an applicant is leasing the property where the |
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business is to be conducted, the term of the lease agreement may not |
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expire before the first anniversary of the date the application is |
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filed. |
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Sec. 1956.0615. FEES. (a) Except as provided by |
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Subsection (b), an applicant must submit with the application: |
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(1) an application fee of: |
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(A) $500, if the applicant does not hold a |
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license under this subchapter; or |
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(B) $200, if the application is for an additional |
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dealership license for a separate location; and |
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(2) an annual license fee in an amount determined by |
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the commission by rule. |
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(b) An applicant that is exempt from taxation under Section |
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501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, is exempt from the fees |
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required under Subsection (a). |
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Sec. 1956.0616. LICENSE TERM; RENEWAL. A license expires |
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on the first anniversary of the date of issuance and may be renewed |
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annually on payment of the required annual license fee. |
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Sec. 1956.0617. INVESTIGATION; NOTICE OF APPLICATION. |
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(a) On receipt of an application and the required fees, the |
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department shall: |
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(1) conduct an investigation to determine whether to |
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issue the license; and |
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(2) give notice of the application to: |
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(A) the Department of Public Safety; and |
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(B) each local law enforcement agency in the |
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county in which the dealership is to conduct business. |
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(b) The notice under Subsection (a) must state the name and |
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address of each person required by Section 1956.0614 to be listed on |
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the license application. |
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(c) The department shall give the Department of Public |
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Safety and local law enforcement agencies a reasonable period to |
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respond to the notice with information concerning the listed |
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persons or any other relevant information. |
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Sec. 1956.0618. NOTICE OF DENIAL; HEARING. (a) If the |
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department determines not to issue a license, the department shall |
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deliver to the applicant at the address provided in the application |
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a written notice by personal delivery or certified mail, return |
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receipt requested. The notice must include the department's reason |
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for denying the license. |
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(b) Not later than the 30th day after the date of receipt of |
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a notice under Subsection (a), an applicant may request a hearing on |
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the application denial. The department shall set the hearing not |
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later than the 60th day after the date of the request. A hearing |
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under this section is subject to Section 51.354. |
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(c) If the department denies the application, the |
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department shall retain the application fee and shall return to the |
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applicant the annual license fee submitted with the application. |
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Sec. 1956.0619. CONTENTS AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE. (a) A |
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license must state: |
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(1) the name of the dealer; |
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(2) the address at which the dealership conducts |
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business; and |
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(3) that the dealership is authorized to deal in |
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crafted precious metals. |
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(b) A dealer shall display a license in a conspicuous |
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location at the place of business provided on the license. |
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Sec. 1956.06191. APPLICATION FOR RELOCATION. A dealer who |
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wishes to move a dealership from the location authorized by a |
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license must file a relocation application with the department not |
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later than the 30th day before the date the dealer moves and pay an |
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application fee of $20. |
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SECTION 5. The heading to Section 1956.062, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.062. REPORT OF PURCHASE OR EXCHANGE REQUIRED. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1956.062, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (d) and adding Subsections |
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(c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows: |
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(b) Before [crafted precious metal is offered for sale or
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exchange,] a dealer [must notify each person intending to sell or
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exchange the metal that, before the dealer] may purchase or |
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exchange crafted precious metal [accept any of the person's
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property], the dealer [person] must compile [file with the dealer] |
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a list describing all of the [person's] crafted precious metal to be |
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accepted by the dealer. The list must contain: |
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(1) the proposed seller's or transferor's name, sex, |
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height, date of birth, eye color, and address; |
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(2) the date and time of the purchase or exchange; |
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(3) a complete and accurate description of the crafted |
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precious metal, including: |
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(A) a serial number and year produced or |
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manufactured, if available; and |
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(B) the size, weight, material, length, number of |
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items, capacity, or other identifying characteristics; and |
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(4) [(3)] the proposed seller's or transferor's signed |
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certification that the information is true and complete. |
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(c) The dealer shall: |
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(1) require the proposed seller or transferor to |
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physically present [record] the proposed seller's or transferor's |
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personal identification document; and |
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(2) record: |
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(A) the type of personal identification document |
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presented; and |
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(B) the identification [driver's license] number |
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of the [or department] personal identification document |
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[certificate number on physical presentation of the license or
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personal identification certificate by the seller]. |
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(c-1) The record described by Subsection (c) must accompany |
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the list required by Subsection (b). |
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(c-2) All lists and records required by this section must be |
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legible. |
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(d) The dealer shall: |
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(1) provide to a peace officer or the department, on |
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demand, the list required by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) mail or deliver a complete copy of the list to the |
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chief of police or the sheriff as provided by Section 1956.063 not |
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later than 48 hours after the list is filed with the dealer. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1956.0635 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.0635. RECEIPT REQUIRED. (a) A dealer, at the |
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time of the sale or exchange of crafted precious metal, shall |
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deliver a receipt to the seller or transferor. Each receipt |
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delivered by the dealer must: |
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(1) be numbered sequentially; |
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(2) contain the date and time of the transaction or |
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acquisition; and |
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(3) itemize the crafted precious metal purchased or |
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exchanged, the price paid for the item, and the value of each item, |
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if melted. |
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(b) An accurate copy or record of the receipt shall be: |
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(1) maintained until the third anniversary of the date |
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of the sale or exchange; and |
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(2) available on request for inspection during |
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business hours by a peace officer or the department. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1956.064, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.064. REQUIRED RETENTION OF CRAFTED PRECIOUS |
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METAL. (a) A dealer may not melt, deface, alter, or dispose of |
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crafted precious metal that is the subject of a report required by |
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this subchapter before the 21st [11th] day after the date the report |
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is filed unless[:
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[(1)
the peace officer to whom the report is
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submitted, for good cause, authorizes disposition of the metal;
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[(2)
the dealer obtains the name, address, and
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description of the buyer and retains a record of that information;
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or
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[(3)] the dealer is a pawnbroker and the disposition |
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is the redemption of pledged property by the pledgor. |
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(b) During the hold period required by Subsection (a), the |
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crafted precious metal shall be stored or displayed: |
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(1) in the exact form received; |
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(2) in a manner as to be identifiable from the |
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description provided under Section 1956.062; |
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(3) in a manner as to not impede or prevent the crafted |
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precious metal's examination by a peace officer or the department; |
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and |
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(4) at the dealership where the crafted precious metal |
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was purchased or exchanged. [A dealer who retains information
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under Subsection (a)(2) shall make that information available for
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inspection by any peace officer.] |
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SECTION 9. Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1956.0645 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.0645. STOLEN CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL. (a) A |
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dealer or an agent or employee of a dealership shall: |
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(1) monitor the purchase of crafted precious metal to |
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identify or prevent transactions involving stolen crafted precious |
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metal; |
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(2) make reasonable efforts to avoid accepting or |
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purchasing stolen crafted precious metal; and |
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(3) immediately report to a local law enforcement |
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agency: |
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(A) an offer to sell to the dealership crafted |
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precious metal actually known or reasonably suspected to be stolen; |
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(B) the identity, if known, and the description |
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of the person offering to sell the metal described by Paragraph (A); |
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and |
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(C) the purchase of crafted precious metal |
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subsequently determined or reasonably suspected to be stolen. |
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(b) A dealer shall cooperate with a local law enforcement |
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agency regarding any matter relating to stolen crafted precious |
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metal and assist in the prompt resolution of an official |
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investigation. |
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SECTION 10. The heading to Section 1956.065, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.065. INSPECTION OF CRAFTED PRECIOUS METAL [BY
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PEACE OFFICER]. |
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SECTION 11. Section 1956.065(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A dealer shall make crafted precious metal purchased or |
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exchanged by the dealer available for inspection by a peace officer |
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or the department during regular business hours while in the |
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dealer's possession. |
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SECTION 12. Section 1956.066, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1956.066. PURCHASE FROM MINOR PROHIBITED. [(a)] A |
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dealer may not purchase crafted precious metal from a person |
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younger than 18 years of age [unless the seller delivers to the
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dealer before the purchase a written statement from the seller's
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parent or legal guardian consenting to the transaction]. |
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[(b)
The dealer shall retain the statement with the records
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required to be kept under this subchapter. The dealer may destroy
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the statement after the later of:
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[(1) the date the item is sold; or
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[(2)
the first anniversary of the date the dealer
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purchased the item.] |
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SECTION 13. Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 1956.0685 and 1956.0686 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 1956.0685. GROUNDS FOR DENIAL, REVOCATION, OR |
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SUSPENSION OF LICENSE. The department may deny, revoke, or suspend |
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a dealership license if the dealer: |
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(1) violates this subchapter or a rule adopted or an |
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order issued under this subchapter; |
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(2) falsifies information on a license application; or |
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(3) is convicted of an offense under Section 31.03, |
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37.09, or 37.10, Penal Code. |
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Sec. 1956.0686. NOTICE OF HEARING. (a) The department |
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shall send written notice to the dealer of a dealership license |
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revocation or suspension hearing that includes the cause or |
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allegations of the revocation or suspension hearing. |
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(b) A hearing under this section is subject to Subchapter G, |
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Chapter 51. |
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SECTION 14. Section 1956.069(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person violates this |
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subchapter [dealer commits an offense if the dealer:
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[(1)
fails to make or permit inspection of a report as
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required by Section 1956.062 or 1956.063;
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[(2)
disposes of crafted precious metal or fails to
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make a record available for inspection by a peace officer as
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required by Section 1956.064;
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[(3)
fails to obtain or retain a statement as required
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by Section 1956.066;
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[(4)
fails to file a registration statement as
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required by Section 1956.067; or
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[(5)
purchases an object in violation of Section
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1956.068]. |
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SECTION 15. Section 215.031, Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 215.031. HAWKERS; PEDDLERS; PAWNBROKERS; CRAFTED |
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PRECIOUS METAL DEALERS. The governing body of the municipality may |
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license, tax, suppress, prevent, or otherwise regulate: |
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(1) hawkers; |
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(2) peddlers; [and] |
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(3) pawnbrokers; and |
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(4) crafted precious metal dealers. |
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SECTION 16. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation |
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shall adopt the rules and procedures necessary to implement |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, as amended by this |
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Act. |
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(b) A crafted precious metal dealer is not required to hold |
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a license under Subchapter B, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code, as |
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amended by this Act, before March 1, 2012. |
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(c) Section 1956.069, Occupations Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was |
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committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. For purposes of this subsection, an offense was committed |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 17. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |