Chapter 056

2003 -- H 6003

Enacted 06/27/03

A N A C T

RELATING TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS -- LICENSED ACTIVITIES

Introduced By: Representatives Mumford, and Long

Date Introduced: February 12, 2003

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 19-14-23 of the General Laws in Chapter 19-14 entitled "Licensed

Activities" is hereby amended to read as follows:

19-14-23. Examinations and investigations. -- (a) For the purpose of discovering

violations of this title or securing information lawfully required, the director or the director's

designee(s) may at any time investigate the loans and business and examine the books, accounts,

records and files used therein, of every licensee and person who shall be engaged in the business,

whether the person shall act or claim to act as principal or agent, or under or without the authority

of this title. For that purpose the director or the director's designee(s) shall have free access to the

offices and places of business, books, accounts, paper, records, files, and safes, of all such

persons. The director or the director's designee(s) shall have authority to require the attendance of

and to examine under oath any person whose testimony may be required relative to the loans or

the business or to the subject matter of any examination, investigation, or hearing.

      (b) The director or the director's designee shall make an examination of the affairs,

business, office, and records of each licensee and branch location at least once every eighteen

(18) months. The total cost of an examination made pursuant to this section shall be paid by the

licensee or person being examined, and shall be include the following expenses:

(1) one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the total salaries and benefits plus one hundred

percent (100%) for the travel and transportation expenses for the examining personnel engaged in

the examinations. The fees shall be paid to the director to and for the use of the state. The

examination fees shall be in addition to any taxes and fees otherwise payable to the state.;

(2) All reasonable technology costs related to the examination process. Technology costs

shall include the actual cost of software and hardware utilized in the examination process and the

cost of training examination personnel in the proper use of the software or hardware; and

(3) All necessary and reasonable education and training costs incurred by the state to

maintain the proficiency and competence of the examination personnel. All such costs shall be

incurred in accordance with appropriate state of Rhode Island regulations, guidelines and

procedures.

(c) Expenses incurred pursuant to subsections (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section shall be

allocated equally to each licensee no more frequently than annually and shall not exceed an

annual average assessment of fifty dollars ($50.00) per company for an given three (3) calendar

year period. All revenues collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited as general

revenues. That assessment shall be in addition to any taxes and fees otherwise payable to the

state.

(c)(d) The provisions of section 19-4-3 shall apply to records of examinations or

investigations of licensees; however, the director or the director's designee is authorized to make

public the number of valid consumer complaints as determined by the director or the director's

designee filed against the licensee for a twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the

request for the information.

(d) (e) If the director or his or her designee has reason to believe that any person required

to be licensed under this chapter is conducting a business without having first obtained a license

under this chapter, or who after the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license is conducting

that business, the director or his or her designee may issue an order to that person commanding

him or her to cease and desist from conducting that business. The order shall provide an

opportunity to request a hearing to be held not sooner than three (3) days after issuance of that

order to show cause why the order should not become final. Any order issued pursuant to this

section shall become final if no request for a hearing is received by the director or his or her

designee within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the order. The order may be served on any

person by mailing a copy of the order, certified mail, return receipt requested, and first class mail

to that person at any address at which that person has done business or at which that person lives.

Any hearing held pursuant to this section shall be governed in accordance with chapter 35 of title

42. If that person fails to comply with an order of the director or his or her designee after being

afforded an opportunity for a hearing, the superior court for Providence County has jurisdiction

upon complaint of the department to restrain and enjoin that person from violating this chapter.

(e) (f) The director may impose an administrative assessment, as well as the penalties

provided for under section 19-14-26, against any person named in an order issued under

subsection (d). The amount of the administrative assessment may not exceed one thousand dollars

($1,000) for each violation of this chapter or each act or omission that constitutes a basis for

issuing the order.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02206

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