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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for obtaining a mortgage broker or loan |
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officer license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 156, Finance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 156.2011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 156.2011. PROVISIONAL LOAN OFFICER LICENSE. (a) An |
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applicant for a loan officer license may be issued a provisional |
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loan officer license as provided by this section only if the |
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applicant: |
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(1) during the 20 months immediately preceding the |
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application, has at least 18 months of experience as a loan officer |
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employed by a person exempt from this chapter under Section |
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156.202; and |
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(2) meets the qualifications for a loan officer |
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license, other than the educational and examination requirements. |
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(b) The commissioner shall use best efforts to issue the |
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provisional loan officer license on or before the later of: |
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(1) the 10th business day after the date of receipt of |
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a completed application; or |
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(2) the second business day after the date of receipt |
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of the criminal background information required under Section |
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156.206 demonstrating that the applicant has no pending criminal |
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charges and has not been convicted of a criminal offense. |
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(c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(2), a person is |
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considered convicted as provided by Section 156.204(d). |
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(d) A provisional loan officer license is valid for 90 days |
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after the date the license is issued, except as provided by |
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Subsection (e). |
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(e) The commissioner may revoke a provisional loan officer |
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license if the commissioner discovers that the applicant has made a |
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misrepresentation relating to the applicant's qualifications for a |
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loan officer license, has violated this chapter, or does not meet |
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the qualifications for a provisional loan officer license. The |
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revocation of a provisional loan officer license is not subject to |
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appeal. |
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(f) The finance commission by rule may impose a fee not to |
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exceed $100 for an expedited issuance of a provisional loan officer |
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license. The fee is nonrefundable and is in addition to the fee for |
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the application for a regular loan officer license. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 156.204(a), (c), and (e), Finance Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible to be licensed as a mortgage broker a |
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person must: |
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(1) be an individual who is at least 18 years of age; |
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(2) be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully |
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admitted alien; |
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(3) maintain a physical office in this state and |
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designate that office in the application; |
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(4) provide the commissioner with satisfactory |
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evidence that the applicant satisfies one of the following: |
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(A) the person has received a bachelor's degree |
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in an area relating to finance, banking, or business administration |
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from an accredited college or university and has 18 months of |
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experience in the mortgage or lending field as evidenced by |
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documentary proof of full-time employment as a mortgage broker or |
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loan officer with a mortgage broker or a person exempt under Section |
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156.202; |
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(B) the person is licensed in this state as: |
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(i) an active real estate broker under |
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Chapter 1101, Occupations Code; |
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(ii) an active attorney; or |
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(iii) a local recording agent or insurance |
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solicitor or agent for a legal reserve life insurance company under |
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Chapter 21, Insurance Code, or holds an equivalent license under |
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Chapter 21, Insurance Code; or |
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(C) the person has three years of experience in |
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the mortgage lending field as evidenced by documentary proof of |
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full-time employment as a loan officer with a mortgage broker or a |
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person exempt under Section 156.202; |
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(5) provide the commissioner with satisfactory |
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evidence of: |
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(A) having passed an examination, offered by a |
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testing service or company approved by the finance commission, that |
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demonstrates knowledge of: |
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(i) the mortgage industry; and |
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(ii) the role and responsibilities of a |
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mortgage broker; and |
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(B) compliance with the financial requirements |
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of this chapter; |
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(6) not have been convicted of a criminal offense that |
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the commissioner determines directly relates to the occupation of a |
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mortgage broker as provided by Chapter 53, Occupations Code; |
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(7) satisfy the commissioner as to the individual's |
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good moral character, including the individual's honesty, |
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trustworthiness, and integrity; [and] |
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(8) not be in violation of this chapter, a rule adopted |
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under this chapter, or any order previously issued to the |
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individual by the commissioner; and |
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(9) provide the commissioner with satisfactory |
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evidence that: |
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(A) if the person has not been previously |
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licensed as a mortgage broker or a loan officer under this |
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subchapter, the person has completed 90 classroom hours of |
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education courses approved by the commissioner under this section; |
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or |
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(B) if the person has not been previously |
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licensed as a mortgage broker under this subchapter but has been |
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licensed as a loan officer under this subchapter, the person has |
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successfully completed an additional 30 classroom hours of |
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education courses approved by the commissioner under this section. |
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(c) To be eligible to be licensed as a loan officer a person |
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must: |
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(1) be an individual who is at least 18 years of age; |
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(2) be a citizen of the United States or a lawfully |
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admitted alien; |
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(3) designate in the application the name of the |
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mortgage broker sponsoring the loan officer; |
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(4) provide the commissioner with satisfactory |
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evidence that the applicant satisfies one of the following: |
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(A) the person meets one of the requirements |
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described by Subsection (a)(4) and has [;
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[(B)the person has] successfully completed 60 |
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classroom [30] hours of education courses approved by the |
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commissioner under this section; |
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(B) [(C)] the person has 18 months of experience |
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as a loan officer as evidenced by documentary proof of full-time |
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employment as a loan officer with [a mortgage broker or] a person |
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exempt under Section 156.202 and has successfully completed 30 |
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classroom hours of education courses approved by the commissioner |
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under this section; or |
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(C) [(D)] for applications received prior to |
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January 1, 2000, the mortgage broker that will sponsor the |
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applicant provides a certification under oath that the applicant |
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has been provided necessary and appropriate education and training |
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regarding all applicable state and federal law and regulations |
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relating to mortgage loans; |
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(5) not have been convicted of a criminal offense that |
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the commissioner determines directly relates to the occupation of a |
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loan officer as provided by Chapter 53, Occupations Code; |
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(6) satisfy the commissioner as to the individual's |
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good moral character, including the individual's honesty, |
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trustworthiness, and integrity; |
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(7) provide the commissioner with satisfactory |
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evidence of having passed an examination, offered by a testing |
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service or company approved by the finance commission, that |
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demonstrates knowledge of: |
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(A) the mortgage industry; and |
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(B) the role and responsibilities of a loan |
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officer; and |
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(8) not be in violation of this chapter, a rule adopted |
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under this chapter, or any order previously issued to the |
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individual by the commissioner. |
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(e) The education courses required for a mortgage broker or |
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loan officer license under Subsection (a)(9) or (c)(4) [(c)(4)(B)] |
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must cover ethics, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of |
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1974 (12 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.), the Truth in Lending Act (15 |
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U.S.C. Section 1601 et seq.), the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 |
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U.S.C. Section 1691 et seq.), and the provisions of this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a loan officer or mortgage broker license for which any part of an |
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application is submitted on or after September 1, 2007. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |