138.14(1)(L)(L) “Special order” means an order against a person. 138.14(2)(2) License required. A person may not originate or service a payday loan involving a Wisconsin resident without first having obtained from the division a license under sub. (5) for each place of business at which the person originates or services payday loans involving Wisconsin residents. Such a license is required for, and this section applies to, all payday loans made to a Wisconsin resident, regardless of whether the loan is made by face-to-face contact, mail, telephone, Internet, or any other means. 138.14(3)(3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to any of the following: 138.14(3)(a)(a) Banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, trust companies, credit unions, or any of their affiliates. 138.14(3)(b)(b) Any transaction in which no finance charge, and no other fees or charges of any kind, are required or accepted, at any time, from the person receiving the loan. For the purposes of this paragraph, “finance charge” has the meaning given in 12 CFR 1026.4. 138.14(4)(a)1.1. Subject to subd. 1g., application for licenses under sub. (5) shall be made to the division in writing in the form and manner prescribed by the division and shall include all of the following: 138.14(4)(a)1.a.a. Except as provided in subd. 3., if the applicant is an individual, the applicant’s social security number. 138.14(4)(a)1.b.b. If the applicant is not an individual, the applicant’s federal employer identification number. 138.14(4)(a)1.c.c. A statement signed by or on behalf of the applicant that acknowledges that the applicant is subject to the debt collection requirements under ch. 427 with respect to payday loans. 138.14(4)(a)1g.1g. The division shall utilize the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry, and the provisions of s. 224.35 shall apply, with respect to applicants and licensees under this section. 138.14(4)(a)1m.1m. An applicant or licensee under this section shall register with, and maintain a valid unique identifier issued by, the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. 138.14(4)(a)1r.1r. Each licensee shall keep current and accurate all material information on file with the division and the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35 (6). 138.14(4)(a)2.2. The division may not disclose any information received under subd. 1. a. or b. to any person except as follows: 138.14(4)(a)2.a.a. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. a. or b. to the department of revenue for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 73.0301 and to the department of workforce development for the sole purpose of requesting certifications under s. 108.227. 138.14(4)(a)2.b.b. The division may disclose information under subd. 1. a. to the department of workforce development in accordance with a memorandum of understanding under s. 49.857. 138.14(4)(a)2.c.c. The division may disclose information to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35. 138.14(4)(a)3.3. If an applicant who is an individual does not have a social security number, the applicant, as a condition of applying for a license, shall submit a statement made or subscribed under oath or affirmation to the division that the applicant does not have a social security number. The form of the statement shall be prescribed by the department of workforce development. Any license issued in reliance upon a false statement submitted by an applicant is invalid. 138.14(4)(b)(b) At the time of making application, an applicant for a license shall pay to the division a nonrefundable $300 fee for investigating the application and a $500 annual license fee. If the cost of the investigation exceeds $300, the applicant shall upon demand of the division pay to the division the amount by which the cost of the investigation exceeds the nonrefundable fee. 138.14(4)(c)(c) The division shall require any applicant or licensee to file and maintain in force a bond in a sum not to exceed $5,000 for each place of business at which the applicant or licensee makes payday loans to a Wisconsin resident. The bond shall be in a form prescribed by and acceptable to the division. 138.14(5)(a)(a) Upon the filing of an application under sub. (4) and the payment of the required fees, the division shall investigate the relevant facts. Except as provided in par. (b), if the division finds that the character and general fitness and the financial responsibility of the applicant, and the members thereof if the applicant is a partnership, limited liability company, or association, and the officers and directors thereof if the applicant is a corporation, warrant the belief that the business will be operated in compliance with this section, the division shall issue a license to the applicant. If the division does not make such finding, the division shall deny the application. 138.14(5)(b)(b) The division may not issue a license to an applicant if any of the following applies: 138.14(5)(b)2.2. The department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes. 138.14(5)(b)2m.2m. The department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the applicant is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. 138.14(5)(b)3.3. The applicant fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings. 138.14(5)(b)4.4. The applicant is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. 138.14(5)(c)(c) A license may be renewed or reinstated as provided in s. 224.35 (7). A license that is not renewed or reinstated by the end of the reinstatement period provided in s. 224.35 (7) shall be deemed to have expired on December 31 of the year immediately preceding the reinstatement period, unless the initial license date is between November 1 and December 31, in which instance the initial license term shall run through December 31 of the following year. 138.14(5)(d)(d) A license is not assignable and permits operation under it only at or from the place of business specified in the license. 138.14(5)(e)(e) A licensee shall conspicuously post a license at the place of business where the licensee makes payday loans, or if conducting business through the Internet, on the licensee’s website so that the license is easily viewed by a consumer. 138.14(6)(a)(a) Whenever a licensee changes the address of its place of business to another location within the same city, village, or town, the licensee shall give written notice thereof, in a form and manner prescribed by the division, to the division within 10 business days of the relocation. If so directed by the division, the licensee shall provide any notice required under this subsection to the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry as provided in s. 224.35. No change in the place of business of a licensee to a different city, village, or town is permitted under the same license. 138.14(6)(b)1.1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a licensee may conduct, and permit others to conduct, at the place of business specified in its license, one or more of the following businesses not subject to this section: 138.14(6)(b)2.2. A licensee may not sell merchandise or conduct other business at the place of business specified in the license unless written authorization is granted to the licensee by the division. 138.14(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a licensee shall keep such books and records in the licensee’s place of business that, in the opinion of the division, will enable the division to determine compliance with this section. A licensee shall preserve the records of final entry used in such business for a period of at least 2 years after the making of any loan recorded therein. 138.14(7)(b)(b) A licensee may keep the books and records specified in par. (a) at a single location inside or outside of this state if the books and records are kept at a place of business licensed under this section. A licensee shall organize the books and records by the place of business where the records originated. 138.14(7)(c)(c) A licensee shall keep the books and records affecting loans made pursuant to this section separate and distinct from the records of any other business of the licensee. 138.14(7)(d)(d) A licensee shall make an annual report and submit financial statements as provided in s. 224.35 (8). 138.14(7)(e)(e) The division shall submit an annual report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3) that includes all of the following: 138.14(7)(e)1.1. The number of payday loans made by all licensees during the preceding year. 138.14(7)(e)2.2. The average principal amount for all payday loans made during the preceding year. 138.14(7)(e)3.3. The average interest, fees, and other charges for all payday loans made during the preceding year. 138.14(7)(e)4.4. Based on subd. 3., the average annual percentage rate for all payday loans made during the preceding year. 138.14(7)(e)5.5. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that were paid in full on the maturity date. 138.14(7)(e)6.6. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that resulted in repayment under sub. (11g) (a). 138.14(7)(e)7.7. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that were repaid with the proceeds of a subsequent payday loan. 138.14(7)(e)8.8. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year that resulted in default. 138.14(7)(e)9.9. The number of payday loans made during the preceding year for which a customer’s payment method was dishonored or denied due to insufficient funds. 138.14(8)(a)(a) The division may issue any general or special order in execution of or supplementary to this section. 138.14(8)(b)(b) The division may promulgate such rules as it considers necessary for the administration of this section, including rules establishing database transaction fees under sub. (14) (h) and other fees considered reasonable and necessary by the division. 138.14(8)(d)(d) The division for the purpose of discovering violations of this section may investigate the business of a licensee transacted under this section, and shall investigate convictions reported to the division by any district attorney for violation by a licensee of this section. The place of business, books of account, papers, records, safes, and vaults of a licensee shall be open to inspection and examination by the division for the purpose of such investigation and the division may examine under oath all persons whose testimony the division may require relative to such investigation. 138.14(8)(e)(e) The cost of any investigation, examination, or hearing, including witness fees or any other expenses, conducted by the division under this section involving a licensee shall be paid by the licensee within 30 days after demand therefor by the division, and the state may maintain an action for the recovery of such costs and expenses. 138.14(8)(f)(f) Actual costs incurred by the division to examine books and records maintained outside of this state shall be paid by the licensee. 138.14(9)(9) Revocation and suspension of licenses. 138.14(9)(a)(a) The division may suspend or revoke any license issued under this section if the division finds any of the following: 138.14(9)(a)1.1. That the licensee has violated any provision of this section, any rule promulgated thereunder, or any lawful order of the division made thereunder. 138.14(9)(a)3.3. That any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the division in refusing to issue such license. 138.14(9)(a)4.4. That the licensee made a material misstatement, or knowingly omitted a material fact, in an application for a license or in information furnished to the division or the nationwide multistate licensing system and registry. 138.14(9)(a)5.5. That the licensee has failed to pay the annual license fee or to maintain in effect the bond required under sub. (4) (c). 138.14(9)(b)(b) The division shall restrict or suspend a license issued under this section if the division finds that the licensee is an individual who fails to comply, after appropriate notice, with a subpoena or warrant issued by the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and related to paternity or child support proceedings or who is delinquent in making court-ordered payments of child or family support, maintenance, birth expenses, medical expenses, or other expenses related to the support of a child or former spouse, as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857. A licensee whose license is restricted or suspended under this paragraph is entitled to a notice and hearing only as provided in a memorandum of understanding entered into under s. 49.857 and is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. 138.14(9)(c)(c) The division shall revoke a license issued under this section if the department of revenue certifies under s. 73.0301 that the licensee is liable for delinquent taxes. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent taxes is entitled to a notice under s. 73.0301 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 73.0301 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. 138.14(9)(cm)(cm) The division shall revoke a license issued under this section if the department of workforce development certifies under s. 108.227 that the licensee is liable for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions. A licensee whose license is revoked under this paragraph for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions is entitled to a notice under s. 108.227 (2) (b) 1. b. and a hearing under s. 108.227 (5) (a) but is not entitled to any other notice or hearing under this section. 138.14(9)(d)(d) Except as provided in pars. (b) to (cm), no license shall be revoked or suspended except after a hearing under this section. A complaint stating the grounds for suspension or revocation together with a notice of hearing shall be delivered to the licensee at least 5 days in advance of the hearing. In the event the licensee cannot be found, complaint and notice of hearing may be left at the place of business stated in the license,which shall be considered the equivalent of delivering the notice of hearing and complaint to the licensee. 138.14(9g)(a)(a) Before any licensee enters into a payday loan with an applicant, the licensee shall do all of the following: 138.14(9g)(a)1.1. Disclose to the applicant the total amount of all fees and costs, in dollars, to be paid by the applicant for the loan assuming that the loan is paid in full at the end of the loan term. 138.14(9g)(a)2.2. Disclose to the applicant the annual percentage rate to be paid by the applicant on the loan assuming that the loan is paid in full at the end of the loan term. 138.14(9g)(a)3.3. Provide to the applicant a copy of the written informational materials specified in sub. (9r). 138.14(9g)(a)4.4. Disclose to the applicant that he or she has the right to rescind the loan transaction as provided in sub. (11r). 138.14(9g)(a)6.6. Disclose to the applicant the payment requirements that may apply under sub. (11g) (a) if the loan is not paid in full at the end of the loan term. 138.14(9g)(b)(b) A licensee shall retain, for at least 3 years after the origination date of any payday loan, a record of compliance with par. (a) with respect to the loan. 138.14(9m)(9m) Income verification. Before entering into a payday loan with an applicant that has not previously been a customer of the licensee, the licensee may request the applicant’s consumer report from a consumer reporting agency as part of the licensee’s underwriting process and the licensee may rely on the consumer report as a permissible method of income verification in making the payday loan. The licensee may also rely on the same consumer report in underwriting and making subsequent payday loans to the same customer. 138.14(9r)(a)(a) The division shall develop written informational materials on payday loans and the payday loan industries. These informational materials shall be designed to educate individuals regarding the operation and potential costs of payday loans and of other options for borrowing funds that may be available. 138.14(9r)(b)(b) The informational materials under par. (a) shall include a clear and conspicuous notice that a payday loan is not intended to meet long-term financial needs and that a payday loan applicant should use a payday loan only to provide funds in a financial emergency.
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