Amended in Senate June 20, 2013

Amended in Senate June 6, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 786


Introduced by Assembly Member Dickinson

February 21, 2013


An act to amend Sections 2003, 2010, 2011, 2040, 2082, 2084, 2101, and 2102 of, and to addbegin delete Sections 2154 and 2174 to,end deletebegin insert Sections 2174 and 2175 to,end insert the Financial Code, relating to money transmissions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 786, as amended, Dickinson. Money transmissions.

Existing law, the Money Transmission Act, provides for the regulation of money transmissions by the Department of Financial Institutions and the Commissioner of Financial Institutions. The Governor’s Reorganization Plan No. 2, as of July 1, 2013, abolishes the Department of Financial Institutions and transfers its responsibilities to the Department of Business Oversight and the Commissioner of Business Oversight.

Existing law requires a person who engages in the business of money transmission in this state to be licensed by the department. Existing law provides that only a corporation or limited liability company may be issued a license under the Money Transmission Act. Existing law exempts certain persons or entities from the application of the act, as specified. Existing law authorizes the commissioner, by regulation or order, to exempt from the act any person or transaction or class of persons or transactions, if the commissioner finds such action to be in the public interest and not necessary.

This bill would further exempt from the act a person that deliversbegin delete payroll money on behalf of an employer to employees by check or deposit in a checking or savings account, as specifiedend deletebegin insert wages or salaries on behalf of employers to employees or facilitates the payment of payroll taxes to state and federal agencies, makes payments relating to employee benefit plans, makes distribution of other authorized deductions from employeesend insertbegin insert’ wages or salary, or transmits other funds on behalf of an employer in connection with transactions related to employeesend insert. The bill would authorize the commissioner, by regulation or order, to exempt from all or part of the act any person or transaction or class of persons or transactions and would require the commissioner to adopt regulations to carry out and implement this section. The bill would require the commissioner to make these exemptions public on the commissioner’s Internet Web site, as specified.

Existing law requires a licensee to maintain tangible shareholders’ equity, as defined, in an amount to be determined from time to time by the commissioner, but not less than $500,000.

This bill would require an applicant to possess, and a licensee to maintain at all times, tangible shareholder’s equity ofbegin delete $100,000end deletebegin insert $250,000end insert to $500,000, depending on estimated or actual transaction volume, as determined by the commissioner. The bill would authorize the commissioner to increase that net worth requirementbegin delete to up to $2,000,000, if certain criteria are met.end deletebegin insert if the commissioner determines that a higher net worth is necessary based on specified factors.end insert

Existing law requires a licensee to at all times own eligible securities, meaning any United States currency eligible security or foreign currency eligible security, having an aggregate market value computed in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, as specified.

This bill would specify that any receivable owed by a bank and resulting from an automated clearinghouse or credit-funded transmission is a United States currency eligible security.

Existing law provides that a licensee shall be deemed to own an eligible security under specified criteria. Existing law provides that no licensee shall be deemed not to own an eligible security solely on account of certain facts, provided that, but for that fact, the licensee would be deemed to own the eligible security.

This bill would provide that no licensee shall be deemed not to own an eligible security solely on account of the fact that the licensee holds the eligible security in a custodial capacity as an agent of its customers in a pooled account in the name of the licensee, as determined by the commissioner based on specified factors.

Existing law requires begin inserta end insertlicensee or its agent to forward all money received for transmission or give instructions committing equivalent money to the person designated by the customer within 10 days after receiving that money, unless otherwise ordered by the customer. In the case of money received for transmission, existing law requires a receipt to be provided by a licensee or its agent to all customers and requiresbegin delete that the receipt be made available to the customer in English and in the language principally used by that licensee or that agent to advertise at that branch office if other than Englishend deletebegin insert the receipt to include a specified statement in this regardend insert.

This bill would provide an exception to these requirements when the money transmission is for the payment of goods or servicesbegin delete and make a conforming change in this regardend delete.

begin delete

Existing law sets forth enforcement provisions under the Money Transmission Act. Existing law authorizes the commissioner to direct a licensee who is out of compliance with the Money Transmission Act to comply with the law or discontinue any unsafe or injurious practices.

end delete
begin delete

This bill would provide that the commissioner has continuous authority to exercise the powers set forth in this act whether or not an application for a license has been filed with the commissioner, any license has been issued, or if issued, has been surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

end delete
begin insert

Existing law provides the commissioner with certain powers for the purposes of enforcing and administering the Money Transmission Act.

end insert

This bill would authorize the commissioner to prepare written decisions, opinion letters, and other formal written guidance and would require the commissioner to make public on the commissioner’s Internet Web site all written decisions, opinion letters, and other formal written guidancebegin insert subject to certain limitationsend insert.begin insert The bill would also authorize the commissioner to offer guidance to a prospective licensee regarding the conditions of licensure and would require the commissioner offering such guidance to provide a prospective applicant with net worth information.end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

P4    1

SECTION 1.  

Section 2003 of the Financial Code is amended
2to read:

3

2003.  

For purposes of this division, the following definitions
4shall apply:

5(a) “Affiliate,” when used with respect to a specified person,
6means any person controlling, controlled by, or under common
7control with, that specified person, directly or indirectly through
8one or more intermediaries. For purposes of subdivisions (q) and
9(v), a specified person is affiliated with another person if that
10person controls, is controlled by, or under common control through
11the ownership directly or indirectly of shares or equity securities
12possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of that
13specified person.

14(b) “Agent” means a person that is not itself licensed as a money
15transmitter in California and provides money transmission in
16California on behalf of the licensee, provided that the licensee
17becomes liable for the money transmission from the time money
18or monetary value is received by that person. However, “agent”
19does not include any officer or employee of the licensee when
20acting as such at an office of a licensee.

21(c) “Applicant” means a person that files an application for a
22license or for acquisition of control of a licensee under this division.

23(d) “Average daily outstanding” means the amount of
24outstanding money transmission obligations in California at the
25end of each day in a given period of time, added together, and
26divided by the total number of days in that period of time.

27(e)  “Branch office” means any office in this state of a licensee
28or agent at which the licensee receives money or monetary value
29to provide money transmission, either directly or through an agent.

30(f) “Business day” means one of the following:

31(1) When used with respect to any act to be performed in this
32state, any day other than Saturday, Sunday, or any other day that
33is provided for as a holiday in the Government Code.

34(2) When used with respect to any act to be performed in any
35jurisdiction other than this state, any day other than a day that is
36a legal holiday under the laws of that jurisdiction.

37(g) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Financial
38Institutions.

P5    1(h) “Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 1250.

2(i) “Day” means calendar day.

3(j) “In California” or “in this state” means physically located
4in California, or with, to, or from persons located in California.

5(k) “Issue” and “issuer” mean, with regard to a payment
6instrument, the entity that is the maker or drawer of the instrument
7in accordance with the California Commercial Code and is liable
8for payment. With regard to stored value, “issue” and “issuer”
9mean the entity that is liable to the holder of stored value and has
10undertaken or is obligated to pay the stored value. Only a licensee
11may issue stored value or payment instruments.

12(l) “Licensee” means a corporation or limited liability company
13licensed under this division.

14(m) “Monetary value” means a medium of exchange, whether
15or not redeemable in money.

16(n) “Money” means a medium of exchange that is authorized
17 or adopted by the United States or a foreign government. The term
18includes a monetary unit of account established by an
19intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or
20more governments.

21(o) “Money transmission” means any of the following:

22(1) Selling or issuing payment instruments.

23(2) Selling or issuing stored value.

24(3) Receiving money for transmission.

25(p) “Outstanding,” with respect to payment instruments and
26stored value, means issued or sold by the licensee in the United
27States and not yet paid or refunded by the licensee, or issued or
28sold on behalf of the licensee in the United States by its agent and
29reported as sold, but not yet paid or refunded by the licensee.
30“Outstanding,” with respect to receiving money for transmission
31means all money or monetary value received in the United States
32for transmission by the licensee or its agents but not yet paid to
33the beneficiaries or refunded to the person from whom the money
34or monetary value was received. All outstanding money
35transmission of a licensee is and shall remain a liability of the
36licensee until it is no longer outstanding.

37(q) “Payment instrument” means a check, draft, money order,
38traveler’s check, or other instrument for the transmission or
39payment of money or monetary value, whether or not negotiable.
40The term does not include a credit card voucher, letter of credit,
P6    1or any instrument that is redeemable by the issuer for goods or
2services provided by the issuer or its affiliate.

3(r) “Person” means an individual, corporation, business trust,
4estate, trust, partnership, proprietorship, syndicate, limited liability
5company, association, joint venture, government, governmental
6subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public corporation or joint
7stock company, or any other organization or legal or commercial
8entity, provided, however, that “person,” when used with respect
9to acquiring control of or controlling a specified person, includes
10any combination of two or more persons acting in concert.

11(s) “Receiving money for transmission” or “money received for
12transmission” means receiving money or monetary value in the
13United States for transmission within or outside the United States
14by electronic or other means. The term does not include sale or
15issuance of payment instruments and stored value.

16(t) “Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible
17medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is
18retrievable in perceivable form.

19(u) “State” means a state of the United States, the District of
20Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any
21territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the
22United States.

23(v) “Stored value” means monetary value representing a claim
24against the issuer that is stored on an electronic or digital medium
25and evidenced by an electronic or digital record, and that is
26intended and accepted for use as a means of redemption for money
27or monetary value or payment for goods or services. The term does
28not include a credit card voucher, letter of credit, or any stored
29value that is only redeemable by the issuer for goods or services
30provided by the issuer or its affiliate, except to the extent required
31by applicable law to be redeemable in cash for its cash value.

32(w) “Traveler’s check” means an instrument that meets all of
33the following:

34(1) Is designated on its face by the term “traveler’s check” or
35by any substantially similar term or is commonly known and
36marketed as a traveler’s check.

37(2) Contains a provision for a specimen signature of the
38purchaser to be completed at the time of purchase.

39(3) Contains a provision for a countersignature of the purchaser
40to be completed at the time of negotiation.

P7    1

SEC. 2.  

Section 2010 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

2

2010.  

This division does not apply to the following:

3(a) The United States or a department, agency, or instrumentality
4thereof, including any federal reserve bank and any federal home
5loan bank.

6(b) Money transmission by the United States Postal Service or
7by a contractor on behalf of the United States Postal Service.

8(c) A state, county, city, or any other governmental agency or
9governmental subdivision of a state.

10(d) A commercial bank or industrial bank, the deposits of which
11are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its
12successor, or any foreign (other nation) bank that is licensed under
13Article 3 (commencing with Section 1800) of Chapter 20 or that
14is authorized under federal law to maintain a federal agency or
15federal branch office in this state; a trust company licensed pursuant
16to Section 1042 or a national association authorized under federal
17law to engage in a trust banking business; an association or federal
18association, as defined in Section 5102 the deposits of which are
19insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or its
20successor; and any federally or state chartered credit union the
21member accounts of which are insured or guaranteed as provided
22in Section 14858.

23(e) Electronic funds transfer of governmental benefits for a
24federal, state, county, or local governmental agency by a contractor
25on behalf of the United States or a department, agency, or
26instrumentality thereof, or a state or governmental subdivision,
27agency, or instrumentality thereof.

28(f) A board of trade designated as a contract market under the
29federal Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. Secs. 1-25, incl.) or
30a person that, in the ordinary course of business, provides clearance
31and settlement services for a board of trade to the extent of its
32operation as or for such a board.

33(g) A person that provides clearance or settlement services
34pursuant to a registration as a clearing agency or an exemption
35from registration granted under the federal securities laws to the
36extent of its operation as such a provider.

37(h) An operator of a payment system to the extent that it provides
38processing, clearing, or settlement services, between or among
39persons excluded by this section, in connection with wire transfers,
40credit card transactions, debit card transactions, stored value
P8    1transactions, automated clearing house transfers, or similar funds
2transfers, to the extent of its operation as such a provider.

3(i) A person registered as a securities broker-dealer under federal
4or state securities laws to the extent of its operation as such a
5broker-dealer.

begin delete

6(j) A person that delivers payroll money on behalf of an
7employer to employees by check or deposit into a checking or
8savings account at a bank, savings bank, savings and loan
9association, savings association, or credit union, if that delivery is
10the only money transmission activity of which the person engages.

end delete
begin insert

11(j) A person that delivers wages or salaries on behalf of
12employers to employees or facilitates the payment of payroll taxes
13to state and federal agencies, makes payments relating to employee
14benefit plans, makes distribution of other authorized deductions
15from employees’ wages or salary, or transmits other funds on
16behalf of an employer in connection with transactions related to
17employees. Notwithstanding this subdivision, a person described
18herein that offers money transmission services or provides stored
19value cards directly to individual customers shall comply with this
20division to the extent of such activity.

end insert

21(k) A person listed under subdivision (d) is exempted from all
22the provisions of this division, except Sections 2062 and 2063.

23

SEC. 3.  

Section 2011 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

24

2011.  

(a) The commissioner may, by regulation or order, either
25unconditionally or upon specified terms and conditions or for
26specified periods, exempt from all or part of this division any
27person or transaction or class of persons or transactions, if the
28commissioner finds such action to be in the public interest and that
29the regulation of such persons or transactions is not necessary for
30the purposes of this division. The commissioner shall post on the
31commissioner’s Internet Web site a list of all persons, transactions,
32or classes of person or transactions exempt pursuant to this section,
33and the part or parts of this division from which they are exempt.

34(b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations to carry out and
35implement this section.

36

SEC. 4.  

Section 2040 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

37

2040.  

(a) An applicant shall possess, and a licensee shall
38maintain at all times, tangible shareholder’s equity ofbegin delete one hundred
39thousand dollars ($100,000)end delete
begin insert two hundred fifty thousand dollars
40($250,000) end insert
to five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), depending
P9    1on estimated or actual transaction volume, as determined by the
2commissionerbegin insert based on the factors described in subdivision (c)end insert.

3(b) The commissioner may increase the amount of net worth
4required of an applicant orbegin delete licensee, up to a maximum of two
5million dollars ($2,000,000),end delete
begin insert licenseeend insert if the commissioner
6determines, with respect to the applicant or licensee, that a higher
7net worth is necessary to achieve the purposes of this division
8based on thebegin delete following factors:end deletebegin insert factors described in subdivision
9(c).end insert

begin insert

10(c) When making a determination pursuant to subdivision (a)
11or (b), the commissioner shall consider the following factors:

end insert

12(1) The nature and volume of the projected or established
13business.

14(2) The number of locations at or through which money
15transmission is or will be conducted.

16(3) The amount, nature, quality, and liquidity of its assets.

17(4) The amount and nature of its liabilities.

18(5) The history of its operations and prospects for earning and
19retaining income.

20(6) The quality of its operations.

21(7) The quality of its management.

22(8) The nature and quality of its principals.

23(9) The nature and quality of the persons in control.

24(10) The history of its compliance with applicable state and
25federal law.

26(11) Any other factor the commissioner considers relevant.

begin delete

27(c)

end delete

28begin insert(d)end insert The commissioner at any time may require a licensee to
29write down any asset held by it to a valuation that will represent
30its then fair market value. Any receivable or debt due to a licensee
31that is past due and unpaid for the period of one year shall be
32charged off, unless it is well secured or is in process of collection.

begin delete

33(d)

end delete

34begin insert(e)end insert The aggregate value of a licensee’s accounts receivable,
35excluding money transmission receivables, loans or extensions of
36credit to any one person, or that person’s affiliates, cannot exceed
3750 percent of the licensee’s tangible shareholders’ equity without
38the advanced written approval of the commissioner. Whenever
39such amount equals or exceeds 20 percent of the licensee’s tangible
40shareholders’ equity, the licensee shall maintain records evidencing
P10   1such amount and any security or other source of payment for the
2amount owed, and such other records as the commissioner may
3require by order or regulation.

begin delete

4(e)

end delete

5begin insert(f)end insert The commissioner shall adopt regulations to carry out and
6implement the factors described in subdivisionbegin delete (b)end deletebegin insert (c)end insert.

7

SEC. 5.  

Section 2082 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

8

2082.  

(a) “Eligible security” means any United States currency
9eligible security or foreign currency eligible security.

10(b) For the purposes of this division, the following are United
11States currency eligible securities:

12(1) Cash.

13(2) Any deposit in an insured bank or an insured savings and
14loan association or insured credit union.

15(3) Any bond, note, or other obligation that is issued or is
16guaranteed by the United States or any agency of the United States.

17(4) Any bond, note, or other obligation that is issued or
18guaranteed by any state of the United States or by any
19governmental agency of or within any state of the United States
20and that is assigned an eligible rating by an eligible securities rating
21service.

22(5) Any bankers acceptance that is eligible for discount by a
23federal reserve bank.

24(6) Any commercial paper that is assigned an eligible rating by
25an eligible rating securities service.

26(7) Any bond, note, or other obligation that is assigned an
27eligible rating by an eligible securities rating service.

28(8) Any share of an investment company that is an open-end
29management company, that is registered under the Investment
30Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 80a-1 et seq.), that holds
31itself out to investors as a money market fund, and that operates
32in accordance with all provisions of the Investment Company Act
33of 1940, and the regulations of the Securities and Exchange
34Commission applicable to money market funds, including Section
35270.2a-7 of the regulations of the Securities and Exchange
36Commission (17 C.F.R. 270.2a-7).

37For purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (9), “investment
38company,” “management company,” and “open-end” have the
39meanings set forth in Sections 3, 4, and 5, respectively, of the
P11   1Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Secs. 80a-4 and
280a-5, respectively).

3(9) Any share of an investment company that is an open-end
4management company, that is registered under the Investment
5Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 80a-1 et seq.), and that
6invests exclusively in securities that constitute eligible securities
7that comply with valuation requirements of this division.

8(10) Any account due to any licensee from any agent in the
9United States on account of the receipt of money on behalf of the
10licensee for money transmission by the agent, if the account is
11current and not past due or otherwise doubtful of collection.

12(11) Any other security or class of securities that the
13commissioner has by regulation or order declared to be eligible
14securities.

15(12) Any receivable owed by a bank and resulting from an
16automated clearinghouse or credit-funded transmission.

17(c) “Foreign currency eligible security” means any of the
18following that is denominated in a foreign currency:

19(1) Cash.

20(2) Any deposit in an office of a bank acceptable to the
21commissioner that is located in a foreign country.

22(3) Any other security or class of securities that the
23commissioner has by regulation or order declared to be eligible
24securities pursuant to Section 2086.

25(d) For the purposes of this division, “value” means the
26following:

27(1) When used with respect to an eligible security owned by a
28licensee of the type described in paragraph (10) of subdivision (b),
29net carrying value as determined in conformity with United States
30generally accepted accounting principles. However, in computing
31the value of the account, any amount that consists of money that
32has not been remitted to the licensee or refunded within 45 business
33days of receipt by the agent shall be excluded from the value of
34the account and shall be excluded from the calculation of eligible
35securities.

36(2) Market value when used with respect to any other eligible
37security owned by a licensee.

38

SEC. 6.  

Section 2084 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

39

2084.  

(a) A licensee shall be deemed to own an eligible
40security only if the following apply:

P12   1(1) The licensee owns the eligible security solely and exclusively
2in its own right, both of record and beneficially.

3(2) The eligible security is not subject to any pledge, lien, or
4security interest.

5(3) The licensee can freely negotiate, assign, or otherwise
6transfer the eligible security.

7(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), no licensee shall be deemed
8not to own an eligible security solely on account of any of the
9following facts, provided that, but for that fact, the licensee would
10be deemed to own the eligible security under the provisions of
11subdivision (a):

12(1) The fact that the eligible security is owned of record by a
13documented nominee of the licensee or by a securities depository.

14(2) The fact that the licensee has pledged the eligible security
15with the United States or any state of the United States to secure
16payment by the licensee of transmission money.

17(3) The fact that the licensee holds the eligible security in a
18custodial capacity as an agent of its customers in a pooled account
19titled in the name of the licensee for the benefit of its customers.

20(c) The commissioner shall make a determination of the
21application of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) based on the
22following:

23(1) The amount, nature, quality, and liquidity of the licensee’s
24assets.

25(2) The amount and nature of the licensee’s liabilities.

26(3) The history of the licensee’s compliance with applicable
27state and federal law.

28

SEC. 7.  

Section 2101 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

29

2101.  

Every licensee or its agent shall forward all money
30received for transmission or give instructions committing
31equivalent money to the person designated by thebegin delete customer within
3210 days after receiving that money, unless otherwise ordered by
33his or her customer or when the transmission is for the payment
34of goods or services.end delete
begin insert customer. Unless the transmission is for the
35payment of goods or services or unless otherwise ordered by his
36or her customer, this requirement shall be satisfied within 10 days
37after receiving that money.end insert

38

SEC. 8.  

Section 2102 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

39

2102.  

(a) Every licensee or its agent shall refund to the
40customer within 10 days of receipt of the customer’s written request
P13   1for a refund any and all money received for transmission unless
2any of the following occurs:

3(1) The money has been forwarded within 10 days of the date
4of receipt.

5(2) Instructions have been given committing an equivalent
6amount of money to the person designated by the customer within
710 days of the date of the receipt of the money from the customer.

8(3) The customer instructs the licensee to transmit the money
9at a time beyond 10 days. If the customer gives instructions as to
10when the money shall be forwarded or transmitted and the moneys
11have not yet been forwarded or transmitted, the licensee or its
12agent shall refund the customer’s money within 10 days of receipt
13of the customer’s written request for a refund.

14(4) Refund would violate law.

15(b) In the case of money received for transmission,begin delete except for
16money transmission for the payment of goods or services,end delete
a receipt
17shall be provided by a licensee or its agent to all customers which
18shall be made available to the customer in English and in the
19language principally used by that licensee or that agent to advertise,
20solicit, or negotiate, either orally or in writing, at that branch office
21if other than English.begin delete Theend deletebegin insert Except when money is received for
22transmission for the payment of goods or services, theend insert
receipt shall
23either include or have attached a conspicuous statement in English
24and in the language principally used by the licensee or that agent
25to advertise, solicit, or negotiate, either orally or in writing at that
26branch office if other than English in a size equal to at least 10
27point bold type, as follows:

28

 

RIGHT TO REFUND

 

“You, the customer, are entitled to a refund of the money to be transmitted as the result of this agreement if _____ (name of licensee) does not forward the money received from you within 10 days of the date of its receipt, or does not give instructions committing an equivalent amount of money to the person designated by you within 10 days of the date of the receipt of the funds from you unless otherwise instructed by youbegin delete or when the transmission is for the payment of goods or servicesend delete.

 

If your instructions as to when the moneys shall be forwarded or transmitted are not complied with and the money has not yet been forwarded or transmitted, you have a right to a refund of your money.

 

If you want a refund, you must mail or deliver your written request to _____ (name of licensee) at _____ (mailing address of licensee). If you do not receive your refund, you may be entitled to your money back plus a penalty of up to $1,000 and attorney’s fees pursuant to Section 2102 of the California Financial Code.”

P14  10

 

11(c) A cause of action under this section may be brought in small
12claims court if it does not exceed the jurisdiction of that court, or
13in any other appropriate court. The customer shall be entitled to
14recover each of the following:

15(1) Any and all money received for transmission, plus any fees
16and charges paid by the customer.

17(2) A penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars
18($1,000). The court shall award the prevailing party costs and
19attorney’s fees.

begin delete20

SEC. 9.  

Section 2154 is added to the Financial Code, to read:

21

2154.  

Whenever the commissioner deems it necessary for the
22general welfare of the public, he or she has continuous authority
23to exercise the powers set forth in this division whether or not an
24application for a license has been filed with the commissioner, any
25license has been issued, or if issued, has been surrendered,
26suspended, or revoked.

end delete
27

begin deleteSEC. 10.end delete
28begin insertSEC. 9.end insert  

Section 2174 is added to the Financial Code, to read:

29

2174.  

(a) The commissioner may prepare written decisions,
30opinion letters, and other formal written guidance to be issued to
31persons seeking clarification regarding the requirements of this
32division.

33(b) The commissioner shall make public on the commissioner’s
34Internet Web site all written decisions, opinion letters, and other
35formal written guidance issued to persons seeking clarification
36regarding the requirements of this division.begin insert end insertbegin insertThe commissioner
37may, at his or her discretion or upon request by an applicant or
38licensee, redact proprietary or other confidential information
39regarding an applicant or licensee from any decision, letter, or
P15   1other written guidance issued in connection with an applicant or
2licensee.end insert

3begin insert

begin insertSEC. 10.end insert  

end insert

begin insertSection 2175 is added to the end insertbegin insertBusiness and Professions
4Code
end insert
begin insert, to read:end insert

begin insert
5

begin insert2175.end insert  

The commissioner may offer guidance to any prospective
6applicant for a license under this division, regarding the conditions
7of licensure that may be applied to that person. The commissioner
8shall inform any applicant that requests that guidance of the
9minimum net worth that will be required of that applicant and the
10factors used to make that determination as described in Section
112040.

end insert


O

    97