Legal Issues | ||||
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Texas Statutes and Rules | ![]() |
Plain Language Project | ![]() |
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) | The Plain Language Initiative | |||
Texas Credit Laws | ||||
Required Disclosures | ||||
Regulated Loan Rules | Filing Deadlines | |||
Pawnshop Rules | Contract Submittal Form (PDF) | |||
Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Rules | ||||
Consumer Debt Management Services Rules | ||||
OCCC Policy and Stance | ![]() |
Legal Department Activities | ![]() |
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Interpretation Letters | Open Records Requests | |||
Home Equity Law Interpretation | Hearing Process | |||
Policy Advisory Relating to the Effective Date of SB 1112 | ||||
Internship in Legal Department | ||||
Proposed
Rules
Administrative
rules are added, updated, and repealed at Finance Commission of Texas (FC)
meeting.
Texas Credit Laws
This document is a compilation of all the statutes and rules this agency enforces,
as published in the December 2003Texas Credit Laws book.
Regulated Loan Statutes
and Rules
For lenders and transactions subject to Chapter 342
Pawnshop Statutes and Rules
For pawnshop owners and transactions (Chapter 371)
Motor Vehicle Financing
Statutes and Rules
For lenders and transactions subject to Chapter 348
Home Equity Commentary
This document expresses the enforcement positions
for home equity loans adopted by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner,
Department of Banking, Savings and Loan Department, and the Credit Union Department.
Interpretation Letters
An interpretation letter is a
document issued by the Consumer Credit Commissioner that provides an interpretation
of an area or activity the OCCC regulates. (Read
a recent example of an interpretation letter.) The interpretation is based
on the specific situation described in the request letter.
The Plain Language
Initiative
The plain language project arose from the
Sunset Commission’s 2000 recommendation that the OCCC require its regulated
loan licensees to provide consumer loan contracts written in plain language.
The 77th Legislature made that recommendation law in Senate Bill
317. The
OCCC is developing plain language model contracts in Spanish and English for
all of the lenders it licenses by working with a drafting committee of attorneys
who represent both consumers and lenders.
Proposed and Adopted
Model Contracts
When a model contract is complete, the OCCC
presents it at the next Finance Commission meeting and then allows at least
30 days for public comment on the proposed model and accompanying rules. Adoption
will typically take place at the subsequent Finance Commission meeting.
Filing Deadlines
Licensees need to either use the contract models prepared
for the loans they arrange or submit their own version of plain language contracts
to the Consumer Credit Commissioner for review. Submission
of these non-standard contracts is not required until the model contract provisions
have been adopted by rule.
Open Records Requests
The
Texas Public Information Act (chapter
552 of the Texas Government Code) requires all state agencies to release
certain public information in response to requests from members of the public.
This section should answer most questions about the agency's policies and
processes for answering open record requests.
Hearing Process
This document sets forth the rules and
processes for administrative hearings conducted by the OCCC in its mission
to ensure that licensees are in compliance with the Texas Finance Code.
Legal Department Internship
Legal Dept. interns get bankable experience at the OCCC: The
Law Clerk Internship allows the interns to work on projects designed to produce
a writing sample which the Intern may find valuable in seeking future employment.
Interns are also allowed to assist counsel in preparing for trials that occur
during the term of the internship, including preparing witnesses and attending
trial.