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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a consumer debt owed by certain military personnel |
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called to active duty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 392, Finance Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. DEFERRED COLLECTION OF CONSUMER DEBT |
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Sec. 392.501. DEFERRED COLLECTION OF DEBT OWED BY CERTAIN |
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MILITARY PERSONNEL CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY. (a) An individual is |
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entitled to defer collection of a consumer debt or abate a suit to |
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collect a consumer debt if the individual: |
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(1) is a member of: |
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(A) the state military forces, as defined by |
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Section 431.001, Government Code; or |
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(B) a reserve component of the armed forces of |
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the United States; |
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(2) is ordered to active duty for a period of 180 days |
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or more; |
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(3) incurred the obligation before the date the |
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individual was ordered to active duty; and |
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(4) because of the individual's military service, is |
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earning at least 10 percent less income than on the date the debt |
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was incurred and, as a result of this loss of income, is unable to |
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pay the debt. |
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(b) To obtain a deferral, an individual must send to the |
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creditor or debt collector: |
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(1) an affidavit stating the facts required to be |
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established by Subsection (a); |
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(2) a copy of a valid military identification card; |
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and |
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(3) a copy of the orders calling the individual to |
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active duty. |
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(c) Not later than the fourth day after the date the |
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individual seeking the deferral sends the affidavit and other |
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documents required for the deferral under Subsection (b) or the |
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date the creditor or debt collector receives those documents, |
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whichever occurs first, the creditor or debt collector shall cease |
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any collection efforts and may not resume those efforts or file suit |
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to collect the consumer debt until the 91st day after the date the |
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individual is no longer on active duty. |
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(d) To obtain an abatement of a pending suit to collect a |
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consumer debt of an individual, an affidavit of the individual or, |
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if authorized by the individual, an affidavit of any spouse, |
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parent, sibling, or adult child of the individual stating the facts |
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required to be established by Subsection (a) and the documents |
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described by Subsections (b)(2) and (3) must be filed in the court |
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in which the suit is pending. On the filing of the affidavit and |
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other documents described by this subsection, the court shall abate |
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the suit until the 91st day after the date the individual no longer |
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is on active duty. The court shall also abate the suit for the same |
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period prescribed by this subsection regardless of whether any of |
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the documents described by this subsection have been filed with the |
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court if, after a hearing, the court finds the individual is |
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entitled to the deferral. The clerk of the court shall deliver a |
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copy of the order abating the suit to the creditor and any |
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applicable debt collector. |
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(e) From the date the creditor or debt collector is required |
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to cease collection efforts under Subsection (c) or the date the |
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court abates a suit under Subsection (d), whichever occurs first, |
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an individual entitled to receive a deferral under this section |
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shall not, during the period of deferral or abatement: |
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(1) be considered to be in default of the obligation; |
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(2) be made subject to accrual of interest on any |
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portion of the obligation; |
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(3) be subject to a demand for payment of or |
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acceleration of the remaining payments of the obligation; |
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(4) be subject to any increase in the periodic payment |
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amount of the obligation; or |
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(5) at any time be penalized in any other manner by the |
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creditor or debt collector because of the deferral. |
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(f) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, |
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if a married individual who qualifies for a deferral or abatement of |
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collection of debt as provided by this section dies, the deferral or |
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abatement continues in effect until the earlier of: |
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(1) the 91st day after the date of the individual's |
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death; or |
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(2) the date the surviving spouse of the individual |
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remarries. |
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Sec. 392.502. EXERCISE OF RIGHTS UNDER SUBCHAPTER NOT TO |
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AFFECT CERTAIN FUTURE TRANSACTIONS. Receipt by an individual of a |
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deferral or abatement of collection of a consumer debt as provided |
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by this subchapter shall not provide the sole basis for: |
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(1) a denial or revocation of an extension of credit by |
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a creditor, debt collector, or other person; |
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(2) a change by a creditor or debt collector in the |
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terms of an existing credit arrangement without the individual's |
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prior consent; |
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(3) a refusal by a creditor or debt collector to extend |
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future credit to the individual in substantially the amount or on |
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substantially the terms requested; |
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(4) an adverse report relating to the creditworthiness |
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of the individual by or to a credit bureau; or |
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(5) an annotation in the individual's file by a credit |
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bureau identifying the individual as a member of the state military |
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forces or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United |
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States. |
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Sec. 392.503. WAIVER OF RIGHT VOID. A provision of a |
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contract or other agreement that purports to be a waiver by an |
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individual of any right provided by this subchapter is contrary to |
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public policy and void. |
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Sec. 392.504. TOLLING OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS. The |
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period of an individual's military service may not be included in |
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computing any period limited by the law for the bringing of any |
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action or proceeding under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 392, Finance Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a member of the state military |
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forces or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United |
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States who is ordered to report for or is serving on active duty on |
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or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |