103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB5538

 

Introduced 2/9/2024, by Rep. Mark L. Walker

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
See Index

    Amends the Financial Institutions Code. Changes the name of the Code to the Financial Institutions Act. Makes conforming changes, including in the Collection Agency Act. Provides that the Division of Financial Institutions is authorized to receive and investigate complaints made about regulated persons; to keep records of all registrations or other authorizations; to issue orders and fines, to require information or reports from regulated persons; to examine activities, books, and records of regulated persons; to defray operating and implementation expenses of administering the Act and other laws; to enter into cooperative agreements; to prescribe the forms of and receive applications or other authorizations and all reports, books, and records required to be made by regulated persons; to subpoena documents and witnesses and administer oaths; to appoint examiners, supervisors, experts, and special assistants; and to investigate and take actions reasonably necessary to prohibit and stop unlicensed activity. Provides for the Division to make and implement rules. Repeals provisions relating to the transfer of powers, rights, and duties from various former Departments to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides for a Director of the Division appointed by the Governor to report to the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation. Provides that any Illinois circuit court may enter an order to enforce subpoenas issued by the Division. Requires regulated persons to maintain character and fitness to justify confidence of the public. Provides for the Secretary to enter into consent orders or settlement agreements with regulated persons. Provides exceptions for some forms of financial interest in any financial institutions under the Division's jurisdiction. Makes other changes. Amends the Consumer Installment Loan Act and the Payday Loan Reform Act. Provides that the Director may fine a person doing business without the required license. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.


LRB103 37882 RTM 68013 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB5538LRB103 37882 RTM 68013 b

1    AN ACT concerning State government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Financial Institutions Code is amended by
5changing Sections 1, 2, 4, 6, 6a, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, and 18 and
6by adding Sections 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, and 18.5 as follows:
 
7    (20 ILCS 1205/1)  (from Ch. 17, par. 101)
8    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act shall be known and shall be
9cited as the "Financial Institutions Act Code."
10(Source: Laws 1957, p. 369.)
 
11    (20 ILCS 1205/2)  (from Ch. 17, par. 102)
12    Sec. 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Financial Institutions
13Act Code is to provide under the Governor for the orderly
14administration and enforcement of laws relating to financial
15institutions under the authority of the Governor.
16(Source: Laws 1957, p. 369.)
 
17    (20 ILCS 1205/4)  (from Ch. 17, par. 104)
18    Sec. 4. Definitions. As used in this Act:
19    "Address of record" means the designated address recorded
20by the Division in the applicant's application file or the
21licensee's license file, as maintained by the Division.

 

 

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1    "Department" means the Department of Financial and
2Professional Regulation.
3    "Director" means the Director or acting Director of the
4Division of Financial Institutions and any authorized
5representative of the Director.
6    "Division" means the Division of Financial Institutions of
7the Department.
8    "Financial institutions" means ambulatory and community
9currency exchanges, credit unions, guaranteed credit unions,
10money transmitters, title insuring or guaranteeing companies
11and their agents, consumer installment lenders, payday
12lenders, sales finance agencies, consumer legal funding
13companies, collection agencies, and any other person who
14industry or business that offers services or products that are
15regulated under any Act administered by the Director.
16    "License" means any certificate or authorization issued to
17any person, party, or entity pursuant to any Act administered
18by the Division.
19    "Licensee" means any person, party, or entity who is or
20comes to be certified, chartered, registered, licensed, or
21otherwise authorized by the Division pursuant to any Act
22administered by the Division.
23    "Payday loan" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
24Payday Loan Reform Act.
25    "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture,
26trust, estate, firm, corporation, cooperative society or

 

 

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1association, or any other form of business association or
2legal entity.
3    "Regulated person" means a person whose activities are
4subject to an Act or rule that is administered by the Division.
5"Regulated person" includes licensees as well as persons who
6are lawfully or unlawfully unlicensed. "Regulated person" also
7includes managers and owners of the licensee.
8    "Secretary" means the Secretary or acting Secretary of
9Financial and Professional Regulation and any authorized
10representative of the Secretary.
11(Source: P.A. 102-975, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
12    (20 ILCS 1205/6)
13    Sec. 6. General powers and duties. In addition to the
14powers and duties provided by law and imposed elsewhere in
15this Act, the Division has the following powers and duties:
16        (1) To administer and enforce the Consumer Installment
17    Loan Act and its implementing rules.
18        (2) To administer and enforce the Currency Exchange
19    Act and its implementing rules.
20        (3) To administer and enforce the Debt Management
21    Service Act and its implementing rules.
22        (4) To administer and enforce the Debt Settlement
23    Consumer Protection Act and its implementing rules.
24        (5) To administer and enforce the Illinois Development
25    Credit Corporation Act and its implementing rules.

 

 

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1        (6) To administer and enforce the Payday Loan Reform
2    Act and its implementing rules.
3        (7) To administer and enforce the Safety Deposit
4    License Act and its implementing rules.
5        (8) To administer and enforce the Sales Finance Agency
6    Act and its implementing rules.
7        (9) To administer and enforce the Title Insurance Act
8    and its implementing rules.
9        (10) To administer and enforce the Transmitters of
10    Money Act and its implementing rules.
11        (11) To administer and enforce the Predatory Loan
12    Prevention Act and its implementing rules.
13        (12) To administer and enforce the Motor Vehicle
14    Retail Installment Sales Act and its implementing rules.
15        (13) To administer and enforce the Retail Installment
16    Sales Act and its implementing rules.
17        (14) To administer and enforce the Illinois Credit
18    Union Act and its implementing rules.
19        (15) To administer and enforce the Collection Agency
20    Act and its implementing rules.
21        (16) To administer and enforce the Consumer Legal
22    Funding Act and its implementing rules.
23        (17) (16) To administer and enforce this Act and any
24    other Act administered by the Director or Division.
25        (17) If the Division is authorized or required by law
26    to consider some aspect of criminal history record

 

 

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1    information for the purpose of carrying out its statutory
2    powers and responsibilities, to obtain from the Illinois
3    State Police, upon request and payment of the fees
4    required by the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
5    Administrative Code of Illinois, pursuant to positive
6    identification, such information contained in State files
7    as is necessary to carry out the duties of the Division.
8         (18) To authorize and administer examinations to
9    ascertain the qualifications of applicants and licensees
10    for which the examination is held.
11         (19) To conduct hearings in proceedings to revoke,
12    suspend, refuse to renew, or take other disciplinary
13    action regarding licenses, charters, certifications,
14    registrations, or authorities of persons as authorized in
15    any Act administered by the Division.
16        (20) To receive, consider, investigate, and act upon
17    complaints made by any person relating to a regulated
18    person.
19        (21) To keep records of all licenses, registrations,
20    charters, or other authorizations.
21        (22) To issue orders and fines against any person: (A)
22    if the Secretary has reasonable cause to believe that an
23    unsafe, unsound, deceptive, unfit, or unlawful practice
24    has occurred, is occurring, or is likely to occur; (B) if
25    any person has violated, is violating, or is about to
26    violate any law, rule, or written agreement with the

 

 

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1    Secretary; or (C) for the purpose of administering the
2    provisions of this Act or other law and any rule adopted in
3    accordance with this Act or other law administered by the
4    Division.
5        (23) To require information or reports from any
6    licensee or regulated person at any time the Secretary
7    chooses.
8        (24) To examine the activities, books, and records of
9    every regulated person.
10        (25) To enforce the provisions of this Act, Illinois
11    laws, and the federal laws applicable to persons regulated
12    by the Division.
13        (26) To levy fees, fines, and civil penalties, charge
14    for services, and impose assessments to defray operating
15    expenses, including direct and indirect costs, of
16    administering this Act and other laws administered by the
17    Division.
18        (27) To enter into cooperative agreements with federal
19    and state regulatory authorities and to accept reports of
20    examinations from federal and state regulatory
21    authorities.
22        (28) To exercise visitorial power over regulated
23    persons.
24        (29) To prescribe the forms of and receive (A)
25    applications for licenses, registrations, charters, or
26    other authorizations; and (B) all reports and all books

 

 

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1    and records required to be made by any regulated person.
2        (30) To subpoena documents and witnesses and compel
3    their attendance and production, to administer oaths, and
4    to require the production of any books, papers, or other
5    materials relevant to any inquiry authorized by this Act
6    or other law administered by the Division.
7        (31) To appoint examiners, supervisors, experts, and
8    special assistants as needed to administer this Act and
9    other laws administered by the Division.
10        (32) To assign an examiner or examiners to monitor the
11    affairs of a regulated person with whatever frequency the
12    Secretary determines appropriate and to charge the
13    regulated person for reasonable and necessary expenses of
14    the Secretary.
15        (33) To investigate unlicensed activity and take any
16    actions reasonably necessary to prohibit and stop
17    unlicensed activity.
18        (34) To perform any other lawful acts necessary or
19    desirable to carry out the purposes and provisions of this
20    Act and other laws administered by the Division.
21    Whenever the Division is authorized or required by law to
22consider some aspect of criminal history record information
23for the purpose of carrying out its statutory powers and
24responsibilities, then, upon request and payment of fees in
25conformance with the requirements of Section 2605-400 of the
26Illinois State Police Law, the Illinois State Police is

 

 

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1authorized to furnish, pursuant to positive identification,
2the information contained in State files that is necessary to
3fulfill the request.
4(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22;
5102-975, eff. 1-1-23; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)
 
6    (20 ILCS 1205/6a)  (from Ch. 17, par. 107)
7    Sec. 6a. Rulemaking authority.
8    (a) In addition to such powers and rulemaking authority as
9may be prescribed elsewhere in this Act or other laws
10administered by the Division, the Secretary may adopt rules
11consistent with the purposes of this Act applicable to
12regulated persons, including, but not limited to:
13        (1) rules in connection with the activities of
14    regulated person as may be necessary and appropriate for
15    the protection of consumers in this State;
16        (2) rules to define the terms used in this Act and as
17    may be necessary and appropriate to interpret and
18    implement the provisions of this Act and any other law
19    administered by the Division;
20        (3) rules as may be necessary for the implementation,
21    administration, and enforcement of this Act and any other
22    law administered by the Division;
23        (4) rules relating to prohibiting disclosure of
24    confidential supervisory information; and
25        (5) rules as may be necessary to increase competition

 

 

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1    and price transparency.
2    (b) The Secretary is hereby authorized and empowered to
3make specific rulings, demands, and findings that the
4Secretary deems necessary for the proper conduct of regulated
5persons.
6The Director may, in accordance with The Illinois
7Administrative Procedure Act, adopt reasonable rules with
8respect to the administration and enforcement of any Act the
9administration of which is vested in the Director or the
10Department.
11(Source: P.A. 81-205.)
 
12    (20 ILCS 1205/7)  (from Ch. 17, par. 108)
13    Sec. 7. Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. The
14provisions of the "The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act",
15as now or hereafter amended, are hereby expressly adopted and
16incorporated herein as though a part of this Act, and shall
17apply to all administrative rules and procedures of the
18Division Director and the Department of Financial Institutions
19under this Act. , except that the provisions of the
20Administrative Procedure Act regarding contested cases shall
21not apply to actions of the Director under Section 15.1 of "An
22Act in relation to the definition, licensing and regulation of
23community currency exchanges and ambulatory currency
24exchanges, and the operators and employees thereof, and to
25make an appropriation therefor, and to provide penalties and

 

 

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1remedies for the violation thereof", approved June 30, 1943,
2as amended, or Sections 8 and 61 of "The Illinois Credit Union
3Act".
4(Source: P.A. 100-22, eff. 1-1-18.)
 
5    (20 ILCS 1205/8)  (from Ch. 17, par. 109)
6    Sec. 8. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary Director
7shall direct and supervise all Department administrative and
8technical activities, in addition to the duties imposed upon
9the Secretary him elsewhere in this Act Code, and shall:
10    (1) Apply and carry out this Act Code and the laws and all
11rules adopted in pursuance thereof.
12    (2) Appoint, subject to the provisions of the Personnel
13Code, such employees of the Division Department and such
14experts and special assistants as may be necessary to carry
15out effectively the provisions of this Act Code.
16    (3) Foster and develop programs with financial
17institutions, for the best interests of these institutions,
18their services, and the People people of the State of
19Illinois.
20    (4) Attend meetings of the Advisory Boards created by laws
21relating to financial institutions.
22    (5) Make continuous studies and report his recommendations
23to the Governor for the improvement of the Department.
24    (6) Make an annual report regarding the work of the
25Department and such special reports as he may consider

 

 

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1desirable to the Governor, or as the Governor may request.
2    (5) (7) Perform any other lawful acts that the Secretary
3which he may consider necessary or desirable to carry out the
4purposes and provisions of this Act Law.
5(Source: Laws 1957, p. 369.)
 
6    (20 ILCS 1205/15)  (from Ch. 17, par. 116)
7    Sec. 15. Pending actions and proceedings. This Act shall
8not affect any act done, ratified or confirmed or any right
9accrued or established, or affect or abate any action or
10proceeding had or commenced in a civil or criminal cause
11before this Act takes effect; but such actions or proceedings
12may be prosecuted and continued by the Division Department of
13Financial Institutions.
14(Source: Laws 1957, p. 369.)
 
15    (20 ILCS 1205/16)  (from Ch. 17, par. 117)
16    Sec. 16. Director and supervisors. The Governor shall
17appoint a Director of the Division, who shall oversee the
18Division and who shall report to the Secretary. There shall be
19a Supervisor of Consumer Credit, a Supervisor of Currency
20Exchanges, a Supervisor of Title Insurance, and a Supervisor
21of Credit Unions. The respective supervisors Supervisors shall
22be appointed by and responsible to the Director and shall be
23administratively responsible within the Department for the
24financial institutions and title insurance entities to which

 

 

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1their appointments pertain. The Secretary may appoint other
2supervisory staff as deemed necessary to implement Acts the
3Division administers.
4(Source: P.A. 99-549, eff. 7-15-16.)
 
5    (20 ILCS 1205/17)  (from Ch. 17, par. 118)
6    Sec. 17. Prohibited interests. Neither the Secretary, the
7Director, nor any supervisor in the Division, nor any examiner
8in the Division shall be an officer, director, owner, or
9shareholder of, or a partner in, or have any proprietary
10interest, direct or indirect, in any financial institution
11under the jurisdiction of the Division. However, ; provided,
12however, that ownership of withdrawable capital accounts or
13shares in credit unions and ownership of diversified
14investment funds, employee benefit plans, pensions, retirement
15and thrift saving plans, or similar financial instruments in
16which the employee has no ability to exercise control over or
17selection of the financial interests held by the fund are
18permitted shall not be deemed to be prevented hereby. If the
19Secretary, Director, or any supervisor, or examiner within the
20Division is a , shall be a shareholder, or partner in, or an
21owner of or has have any interest, direct or indirect, in any
22such financial institution under the jurisdiction of the
23Division at the time of his appointment, that person he shall
24dispose of the his shares of stock or other evidences of
25ownership or property within 120 days from the date of his

 

 

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1appointment. It is unlawful for the Secretary, Director, or
2any supervisor or examiner within the Division to obtain or
3repay any loan, product, or service from a financial
4institution subject to the jurisdiction of the Division on
5terms more favorable than those offered to the general public.
6The Secretary is authorized to adopt rules to implement or
7interpret this Section. It is unlawful for the Director, any
8supervisor or examiner to obtain any loan or gratuity from a
9financial institution subject to the jurisdiction of the
10Department as herein provided. If any other employee of the
11Department borrows from or becomes indebted in an aggregate
12amount of $2,500 or more to any financial institution subject
13to the jurisdiction of the Department, he shall make a written
14report to the Director stating the date and amount of such loan
15or indebtedness, the security therefor, if any, and the
16purpose or purposes for which proceeds have been or are to be
17used.
18(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)
 
19    (20 ILCS 1205/18)  (from Ch. 17, par. 119)
20    Sec. 18. Oaths; subpoenas; penalty.
21    (a) At any time during the course of any investigation or
22hearing conducted pursuant to any Act administered by the
23Division, the Secretary The Director shall have the power to
24administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, take evidence, and
25compel the production of any books, records, or any other

 

 

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1documents that the Secretary deems relevant or and papers
2pertinent to any investigation or hearing regarding the
3operation of any financial institution. Witnesses in
4investigations or hearings conducted under this Section are
5entitled to the same fees and mileage, and in the same manner,
6as prescribed by law in judicial proceedings in civil cases of
7this State.
8    (b) Any person who fails to appear in response to a
9subpoena, or to answer any question, to or produce any books,
10and papers, records, or any documents deemed relevant or
11pertinent to such investigation or hearing, or who knowingly
12gives false testimony therein, is guilty of a Class A
13misdemeanor. Each violation shall constitute a separate and
14distinct offense. In addition to initiating criminal
15proceedings through referral, the Division, through the
16Attorney General, may seek enforcement of any such subpoena in
17any circuit court of this State.
18(Source: P.A. 77-2594.)
 
19    (20 ILCS 1205/18.2 new)
20    Sec. 18.2. Court order requiring attendance of witnesses
21or production of materials. Upon application by the Division,
22any Illinois circuit court may enter an order to enforce a
23subpoena issued by the Division for the attendance of
24witnesses and the production of relevant books and papers or
25other documents deemed relevant or pertinent before the

 

 

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1Division in any hearing relative to the denial of an
2application, refusal to renew, suspension, revocation, placing
3on probationary status, reprimand, fine, or the taking of any
4other disciplinary action as may be authorized in any Act
5administered by the Division. The court may compel obedience
6to its order through proceedings for contempt.
 
7    (20 ILCS 1205/18.3 new)
8    Sec. 18.3. Perjury; penalty. The Secretary may require any
9document filed under any Act administered or rule adopted by
10the Division to be verified or contain a written affirmation
11that it is signed under the penalties of perjury. Any person
12who knowingly signs a fraudulent document commits perjury as
13defined in Section 32-2 of the Criminal Code of 2012 and shall
14be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
 
15    (20 ILCS 1205/18.4 new)
16    Sec. 18.4. Character and fitness. To receive and maintain
17any license for any Act administered by the Division, a
18regulated person shall at all times have the character and
19general fitness as to justify the confidence of the public and
20be fit, willing, and able to carry on the proposed business in
21a lawful and fair manner.
 
22    (20 ILCS 1205/18.5 new)
23    Sec. 18.5. Consent orders and settlement agreements. The

 

 

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1Secretary may enter into a consent order or settlement
2agreement at any time with a regulated person to resolve a
3matter arising under this Act or any other Act under the
4jurisdiction of the Division. A consent order or settlement
5agreement need not constitute an admission by a regulated
6person that this Act or a rule or order issued or adopted under
7this Act or any Act under the jurisdiction of the Division has
8been violated, nor need it constitute a finding by the
9Secretary that the person has violated this Act or a rule or
10order adopted under this Act or any Act under the jurisdiction
11of the Division.
 
12    (20 ILCS 1205/9 rep.)
13    (20 ILCS 1205/10 rep.)
14    (20 ILCS 1205/11 rep.)
15    (20 ILCS 1205/12 rep.)
16    (20 ILCS 1205/13 rep.)
17    (20 ILCS 1205/13.5 rep.)
18    (20 ILCS 1205/14 rep.)
19    Section 10. The Financial Institutions Code is amended by
20repealing Sections 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 13.5, and 14.
 
21    Section 15. The Currency Exchange Act is amended by
22changing Section 19 as follows:
 
23    (205 ILCS 405/19)  (from Ch. 17, par. 4835)

 

 

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1    Sec. 19. The Department may make and enforce such
2reasonable rules, directions, orders, decisions and findings
3as the execution and enforcement of the provisions of this Act
4require, and as are not inconsistent within this Act. All such
5rules, directions, orders, decisions and findings shall be
6filed and entered by the Secretary in an indexed permanent
7book or record, or electronic record, with the effective date
8thereof suitably indicated, and such book or record shall be a
9public document. All rules and directions, which are of a
10general character, shall be made available in electronic form
11to all licensees within 10 days after filing and any changes
12shall be emailed to all licensees shall receive by mail notice
13of any changes. Copies of all findings, orders and decisions
14shall be mailed to the parties affected thereby by United
15States mail within 5 days of such filing.
16    The Department shall adopt rules concerning classes of
17violations, which may include continuing violations of this
18Act, and factors in mitigation of violations.
19(Source: P.A. 99-445, eff. 1-1-16.)
 
20    Section 20. The Sales Finance Agency Act is amended by
21changing Section 8 as follows:
 
22    (205 ILCS 660/8)  (from Ch. 17, par. 5208)
23    Sec. 8. The Department may deny an application for a
24license, deny an application for renewal of a license, or

 

 

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1suspend or revoke a license on any of the grounds listed in
2Sections 8.1 through 8.14 and the Financial Institutions Act.
3(Source: P.A. 90-437, eff. 1-1-98.)
 
4    Section 25. The Consumer Installment Loan Act is amended
5by changing Sections 9, 15 and 20.5 as follows:
 
6    (205 ILCS 670/9)  (from Ch. 17, par. 5409)
7    Sec. 9. Fines, Suspension or Revocation of license.
8    (a) The Director may fine a licensee or any other person or
9entity doing business without the required license , after 10
10days notice by registered mail to the licensee at the address
11set forth in the license, stating the contemplated action and
12in general the grounds therefor, fine such licensee an amount
13not exceeding $10,000 per violation, or revoke or suspend any
14license issued hereunder if he or she finds that:
15        (1) The licensee has failed to comply with any
16    provision of this Act or any order, decision, finding,
17    rule, regulation or direction of the Director lawfully
18    made pursuant to the authority of this Act; or
19        (2) Any fact or condition exists which, if it had
20    existed at the time of the original application for the
21    license, clearly would have warranted the Director in
22    refusing to issue the license.
23    (a-5) All orders issued pursuant to this Act shall be
24served on the licensee, person, or entity with notice of his or

 

 

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1her action, including a statement of the reasons for his or her
2actions, either personally, or by certified mail. Service by
3certified mail shall be deemed completed when the notice is
4deposited in the U.S. Mail.
5    (b) The Director may fine, suspend, or revoke only the
6particular license with respect to which grounds for the fine,
7revocation or suspension occur or exist, but if the Director
8shall find that grounds for revocation are of general
9application to all offices or to more than one office of the
10licensee, the Director shall fine, suspend, or revoke every
11license to which such grounds apply.
12    (c) (Blank).
13    (d) No revocation, suspension, or surrender of any license
14shall impair or affect the obligation of any pre-existing
15lawful contract between the licensee and any obligor.
16    (e) The Director may issue a new license to a licensee
17whose license has been revoked when facts or conditions which
18clearly would have warranted the Director in refusing
19originally to issue the license no longer exist.
20    (f) (Blank).
21    (g) In every case in which a license is suspended or
22revoked or an application for a license or renewal of a license
23is denied, the Director shall serve the licensee with notice
24of his or her action, including a statement of the reasons for
25his or her actions, either personally, or by certified mail,
26return receipt requested. Service by certified mail shall be

 

 

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1deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S.
2Mail.
3    (h) An order assessing a fine, an order revoking or
4suspending a license or, an order denying renewal of a license
5shall take effect upon service of the order unless the
6licensee requests, in writing, within 10 days after the date
7of service, a hearing. In the event a hearing is requested, the
8order shall be stayed until a final administrative order is
9entered.
10    (i) If the licensee requests a hearing, the Director shall
11schedule a preliminary hearing within 30 days after the
12request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the
13parties.
14    (j) The hearing shall be held at the time and place
15designated by the Director. The Director and any
16administrative law judge designated by him or her shall have
17the power to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena
18witnesses and compel their attendance, take evidence, and
19require the production of books, papers, correspondence, and
20other records or information that he or she considers relevant
21or material to the inquiry.
22    (k) The costs for the administrative hearing shall be set
23by rule.
24    (l) The Director shall have the authority to prescribe
25rules for the administration of this Section.
26    (m) The Department shall establish by rule and publish a

 

 

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1schedule of fines that are reasonably tailored to ensure
2compliance with the provisions of this Act and which include
3remedial measures intended to improve licensee compliance.
4Such rules shall set forth the standards and procedures to be
5used in imposing any such fines and remedies.
6(Source: P.A. 98-209, eff. 1-1-14.)
 
7    (205 ILCS 670/15)  (from Ch. 17, par. 5415)
8    Sec. 15. Charges permitted.
9    (a) Every licensee may lend a principal amount not
10exceeding $40,000 and may charge, contract for and receive
11thereon charges interest at an annual percentage rate of no
12more than 36%, subject to the provisions of this Act. For
13purposes of this Section, the annual percentage rate shall be
14calculated as such rate is calculated using the system for
15calculating a military annual percentage rate under Section
16232.4 of Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations as in
17effect on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the
18101st General Assembly.
19    (b) For purpose of this Section, the following terms shall
20have the meanings ascribed herein.
21    "Applicable interest" for a precomputed loan contract
22means the amount of interest attributable to each monthly
23installment period. It is computed as if each installment
24period were one month and any interest charged for extending
25the first installment period beyond one month is ignored. The

 

 

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1applicable interest for any monthly installment period is that
2portion of the precomputed interest that bears the same ratio
3to the total precomputed interest as the balances scheduled to
4be outstanding during that month bear to the sum of all
5scheduled monthly outstanding balances in the original
6contract.
7    "Interest-bearing loan" means a loan in which the debt is
8expressed as a principal amount plus interest charged on
9actual unpaid principal balances for the time actually
10outstanding.
11    "Precomputed loan" means a loan in which the debt is
12expressed as the sum of the original principal amount plus
13interest computed actuarially in advance, assuming all
14payments will be made when scheduled.
15    "Substantially equal installment" includes a last
16regularly scheduled payment that may be less than, but not
17more than 5% larger than, the previous scheduled payment
18according to a disclosed payment schedule agreed to by the
19parties.
20    (c) Loans may be interest-bearing or precomputed.
21    (d) To compute time for either interest-bearing or
22precomputed loans for the calculation of interest and other
23purposes, a month shall be a calendar month and a day shall be
24considered 1/30th of a month when calculation is made for a
25fraction of a month. A month shall be 1/12th of a year. A
26calendar month is that period from a given date in one month to

 

 

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1the same numbered date in the following month, and if there is
2no same numbered date, to the last day of the following month.
3When a period of time includes a month and a fraction of a
4month, the fraction of the month is considered to follow the
5whole month. In the alternative, for interest-bearing loans,
6the licensee may charge interest at the rate of 1/365th of the
7agreed annual rate for each day actually elapsed.
8    (d-5) No licensee or other person may condition an
9extension of credit to a consumer on the consumer's repayment
10by preauthorized electronic fund transfers. Payment options,
11including, but not limited to, electronic fund transfers and
12Automatic Clearing House (ACH) transactions may be offered to
13consumers as a choice and method of payment chosen by the
14consumer.
15    (e) With respect to interest-bearing loans:
16        (1) Interest shall be computed on unpaid principal
17    balances outstanding from time to time, for the time
18    outstanding, until fully paid. Each payment shall be
19    applied first to the accumulated interest and the
20    remainder of the payment applied to the unpaid principal
21    balance; provided however, that if the amount of the
22    payment is insufficient to pay the accumulated interest,
23    the unpaid interest continues to accumulate to be paid
24    from the proceeds of subsequent payments and is not added
25    to the principal balance.
26        (2) Interest shall not be payable in advance or

 

 

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1    compounded. However, if part or all of the consideration
2    for a new loan contract is the unpaid principal balance of
3    a prior loan, then the principal amount payable under the
4    new loan contract may include any unpaid interest which
5    has accrued. The unpaid principal balance of a precomputed
6    loan is the balance due after refund or credit of unearned
7    interest as provided in paragraph (f), clause (3). The
8    resulting loan contract shall be deemed a new and separate
9    loan transaction for all purposes.
10        (3) Loans must be fully amortizing and be repayable in
11    substantially equal and consecutive weekly, biweekly,
12    semimonthly, or monthly installments. Notwithstanding this
13    requirement, rates may vary according to an index that is
14    independently verifiable and beyond the control of the
15    licensee.
16        (4) The lender or creditor may, if the contract
17    provides, collect a delinquency or collection charge on
18    each installment in default for a period of not less than
19    10 days in an amount not exceeding 5% of the installment on
20    installments in excess of $200, or $10 on installments of
21    $200 or less, but only one delinquency and collection
22    charge may be collected on any installment regardless of
23    the period during which it remains in default.
24    (f) With respect to precomputed loans:
25        (1) Loans shall be repayable in substantially equal
26    and consecutive weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, or monthly

 

 

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1    installments of principal and interest combined, except
2    that the first installment period may be longer than one
3    month by not more than 15 days, and the first installment
4    payment amount may be larger than the remaining payments
5    by the amount of interest charged for the extra days; and
6    provided further that monthly installment payment dates
7    may be omitted to accommodate borrowers with seasonal
8    income.
9        (2) Payments may be applied to the combined total of
10    principal and precomputed interest until the loan is fully
11    paid. Payments shall be applied in the order in which they
12    become due, except that any insurance proceeds received as
13    a result of any claim made on any insurance, unless
14    sufficient to prepay the contract in full, may be applied
15    to the unpaid installments of the total of payments in
16    inverse order.
17        (3) When any loan contract is paid in full by cash,
18    renewal or refinancing, or a new loan, one month or more
19    before the final installment due date, a licensee shall
20    refund or credit the obligor with the total of the
21    applicable interest for all fully unexpired installment
22    periods, as originally scheduled or as deferred, which
23    follow the day of prepayment; provided, if the prepayment
24    occurs prior to the first installment due date, the
25    licensee may retain 1/30 of the applicable interest for a
26    first installment period of one month for each day from

 

 

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1    the date of the loan to the date of prepayment, and shall
2    refund or credit the obligor with the balance of the total
3    interest contracted for. If the maturity of the loan is
4    accelerated for any reason and judgment is entered, the
5    licensee shall credit the borrower with the same refund as
6    if prepayment in full had been made on the date the
7    judgment judgement is entered.
8        (4) The lender or creditor may, if the contract
9    provides, collect a delinquency or collection charge on
10    each installment in default for a period of not less than
11    10 days in an amount not exceeding 5% of the installment on
12    installments in excess of $200, or $10 on installments of
13    $200 or less, but only one delinquency or collection
14    charge may be collected on any installment regardless of
15    the period during which it remains in default.
16        (5) If the parties agree in writing, either in the
17    loan contract or in a subsequent agreement, to a deferment
18    of wholly unpaid installments, a licensee may grant a
19    deferment and may collect a deferment charge as provided
20    in this Section. A deferment postpones the scheduled due
21    date of the earliest unpaid installment and all subsequent
22    installments as originally scheduled, or as previously
23    deferred, for a period equal to the deferment period. The
24    deferment period is that period during which no
25    installment is scheduled to be paid by reason of the
26    deferment. The deferment charge for a one-month one month

 

 

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1    period may not exceed the applicable interest for the
2    installment period immediately following the due date of
3    the last undeferred payment. A proportionate charge may be
4    made for deferment for periods of more or less than one
5    month. A deferment charge is earned pro rata during the
6    deferment period and is fully earned on the last day of the
7    deferment period. Should a loan be prepaid in full during
8    a deferment period, the licensee shall credit to the
9    obligor a refund of the unearned deferment charge in
10    addition to any other refund or credit made for prepayment
11    of the loan in full.
12        (6) If 2 two or more installments are delinquent one
13    full month or more on any due date, and if the contract so
14    provides, the licensee may reduce the unpaid balance by
15    the refund credit which would be required for prepayment
16    in full on the due date of the most recent maturing
17    installment in default. Thereafter, and in lieu of any
18    other default or deferment charges, the agreed rate of
19    interest may be charged on the unpaid balance until fully
20    paid.
21        (7) Fifteen days after the final installment as
22    originally scheduled or deferred, the licensee, for any
23    loan contract which has not previously been converted to
24    interest-bearing under paragraph (f), clause (6), may
25    compute and charge interest on any balance remaining
26    unpaid, including unpaid default or deferment charges, at

 

 

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1    the agreed rate of interest until fully paid. At the time
2    of payment of said final installment, the licensee shall
3    give notice to the obligor stating any amounts unpaid.
4(Source: P.A. 101-563, eff. 8-23-19; 101-658, eff. 3-23-21.)
 
5    (205 ILCS 670/20.5)
6    Sec. 20.5. Cease and desist.
7    (a) The Director may issue a cease and desist order to any
8licensee, or other person or entity doing business without the
9required license, when in the opinion of the Director, the
10licensee, or other person or entity, has violated, is
11violating, or is about to violate any provision of this Act or
12any rule or requirement imposed in writing by the Department
13as a condition of granting any authorization permitted by this
14Act.
15    (b) The Director may issue a cease and desist order prior
16to a hearing.
17    (c) The Director shall serve notice of his or her action,
18designated as a cease and desist order made pursuant to this
19Section, including a statement of the reasons for the action,
20either personally or by certified mail, return receipt
21requested. Service by certified mail shall be deemed completed
22when the notice is deposited in the U.S. mail.
23    (d) Within 15 days of service of the cease and desist
24order, the licensee or other person may request, in writing, a
25hearing.

 

 

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1    (e) The Director shall schedule a preliminary hearing
2within 30 days after the request for a hearing unless
3otherwise agreed to by the parties.
4    (f) The Director shall have the authority to prescribe
5rules for the administration of this Section.
6    (g) If it is determined that the Director had the
7authority to issue the cease and desist order, he or she may
8issue such orders as may be reasonably necessary to correct,
9eliminate, or remedy such conduct.
10    (h) The powers vested in the Director by this Section are
11additional to any and all other powers and remedies vested in
12the Director by law, and nothing in this Section shall be
13construed as requiring that the Director shall employ the
14power conferred in this Section instead of or as a condition
15precedent to the exercise of any other power or remedy vested
16in the Director.
17    (i) The cost for the administrative hearing shall be set
18by rule.
19(Source: P.A. 90-437, eff. 1-1-98.)
 
20    Section 35. The Collection Agency Act is amended by
21changing Section 13.2 as follows:
 
22    (205 ILCS 740/13.2)  (was 225 ILCS 425/13.2)
23    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2026)
24    Sec. 13.2. Powers and duties of Department. The Department

 

 

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1shall exercise the powers and duties prescribed by the
2Financial Institutions Act Code for the administration of
3licensing Acts and shall exercise such other powers and duties
4necessary for effectuating the purposes of this Act.
5    Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Department may:
6        (1) Conduct hearings on proceedings to refuse to issue
7    or renew or to revoke licenses or suspend, place on
8    probation, or reprimand persons licensed under this Act.
9        (2) To adopt rules consistent with the purposes of
10    this Act, including, but not limited to: (i) rules in
11    connection with the activities of collection agencies as
12    may be necessary and appropriate for the protection of
13    consumers in this State; (ii) rules as may be necessary
14    and appropriate to define and enforce against improper or
15    fraudulent business practices in connection with the
16    activities of collection agencies; (iii) rules that define
17    the terms used in this Act and as may be necessary and
18    appropriate to interpret and implement the provisions of
19    this Act; and (iv) rules as may be necessary for the
20    enforcement of this Act.
21        (3) Obtain written recommendations from the Board
22    regarding standards of professional conduct, formal
23    disciplinary actions and the formulation of rules
24    affecting these matters. Notice of proposed rulemaking
25    shall be transmitted to the Board and the Department shall
26    review the response of the Board and any recommendations

 

 

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1    made in the response. The Department may solicit the
2    advice of the Board on any matter relating to the
3    administration and enforcement of this Act.
4        (4) (Blank).
5(Source: P.A. 102-975, eff. 1-1-23.)
 
6    Section 40. The Payday Loan Reform Act is amended by
7changing Section 4-10 as follows:
 
8    (815 ILCS 122/4-10)
9    Sec. 4-10. Enforcement and remedies.
10    (a) The remedies provided in this Act are cumulative and
11apply to persons or entities subject to this Act.
12    (b) Any material violation of this Act, including the
13commission of an act prohibited under Section 4-5, constitutes
14a violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business
15Practices Act.
16    (c) If any provision of the written agreement described in
17subsection (b) of Section 2-20 violates this Act, then that
18provision is unenforceable against the consumer.
19    (d) Subject to the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act,
20the Secretary may hold hearings, make findings of fact,
21conclusions of law, issue cease and desist orders, have the
22power to issue fines of up to $10,000 per violation, refer the
23matter to the appropriate law enforcement agency for
24prosecution under this Act, and suspend or revoke a license

 

 

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1granted under this Act. All proceedings shall be open to the
2public.
3    (e) The Secretary may issue a cease and desist order to any
4licensee or other person or entity doing business without the
5required license, when in the opinion of the Secretary the
6licensee or other person or entity has violated, is violating,
7or is about to violate any provision of this Act or any rule or
8requirement imposed in writing by the Department as a
9condition of granting any authorization permitted by this Act.
10The cease and desist order permitted by this subsection (e)
11may be issued prior to a hearing.
12    The Secretary shall serve notice of his or her action,
13including, but not limited to, a statement of the reasons for
14the action, either personally or by certified mail, return
15receipt requested. Service by certified mail shall be deemed
16completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S. Mail.
17    Within 10 days of service of the cease and desist order,
18the licensee or other person may request a hearing in writing.
19The Secretary shall schedule a hearing within 30 days after
20the request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the
21parties.
22    If it is determined that the Secretary had the authority
23to issue the cease and desist order, he or she may issue such
24orders as may be reasonably necessary to correct, eliminate,
25or remedy the conduct.
26    The powers vested in the Secretary by this subsection (e)

 

 

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1are additional to any and all other powers and remedies vested
2in the Secretary by law, and nothing in this subsection (e)
3shall be construed as requiring that the Secretary shall
4employ the power conferred in this subsection instead of or as
5a condition precedent to the exercise of any other power or
6remedy vested in the Secretary.
7    (f) The Secretary may, after 10 days notice by registered
8mail to the licensee at the address set forth in the license
9stating the contemplated action and in general the grounds
10therefore, fine a the licensee or other person or entity doing
11business without the required license an amount not exceeding
12$10,000 per violation, or revoke or suspend any license issued
13hereunder if he or she finds that:
14        (1) the licensee has failed to comply with any
15    provision of this Act or any order, decision, finding,
16    rule, regulation, or direction of the Secretary lawfully
17    made pursuant to the authority of this Act; or
18        (2) any fact or condition exists which, if it had
19    existed at the time of the original application for the
20    license, clearly would have warranted the Secretary in
21    refusing to issue the license.
22    The Secretary may fine, suspend, or revoke only the
23particular license with respect to which grounds for the fine,
24revocation, or suspension occur or exist, but if the Secretary
25finds that grounds for revocation are of general application
26to all offices or to more than one office of the licensee, the

 

 

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1Secretary shall fine, suspend, or revoke every license to
2which the grounds apply.
3    The Department shall establish by rule and publish a
4schedule of fines that are reasonably tailored to ensure
5compliance with the provisions of this Act and which include
6remedial measures intended to improve licensee compliance.
7Such rules shall set forth the standards and procedures to be
8used in imposing any such fines and remedies.
9    No revocation, suspension, or surrender of any license
10shall impair or affect the obligation of any pre-existing
11lawful contract between the licensee and any obligor.
12    The Secretary may issue a new license to a licensee whose
13license has been revoked when facts or conditions which
14clearly would have warranted the Secretary in refusing
15originally to issue the license no longer exist.
16    In every case in which a license is suspended or revoked or
17an application for a license or renewal of a license is denied,
18the Secretary shall serve the licensee or other person or
19entity doing business without the required license with notice
20of his or her action, including a statement of the reasons for
21his or her actions, either personally, or by certified mail,
22return receipt requested. Service by certified mail shall be
23deemed completed when the notice is deposited in the U.S.
24Mail.
25    An order assessing a fine, an order revoking or suspending
26a license, or an order denying renewal of a license shall take

 

 

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1effect upon service of the order unless the licensee requests
2a hearing, in writing, within 10 days after the date of
3service. In the event a hearing is requested, the order shall
4be stayed until a final administrative order is entered.
5    If the licensee requests a hearing, the Secretary shall
6schedule a preliminary hearing within 30 days after the
7request for a hearing unless otherwise agreed to by the
8parties.
9    The hearing shall be held at the time and place designated
10by the Secretary. The Secretary and any administrative law
11judge designated by him or her shall have the power to
12administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses and
13compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the
14production of books, papers, correspondence, and other records
15or information that he or she considers relevant or material
16to the inquiry.
17    (g) The costs of administrative hearings conducted
18pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the licensee.
19    (h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section,
20if a lender who does not have a license issued under this Act
21makes a loan pursuant to this Act to an Illinois consumer, then
22the loan shall be null and void and the lender who made the
23loan shall have no right to collect, receive, or retain any
24principal, interest, or charges related to the loan.
25(Source: P.A. 97-1039, eff. 1-1-13; 98-209, eff. 1-1-14.)
 
26    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon

 

 

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1becoming law.

 

 

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1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance
3    20 ILCS 1205/1from Ch. 17, par. 101
4    20 ILCS 1205/2from Ch. 17, par. 102
5    20 ILCS 1205/4from Ch. 17, par. 104
6    20 ILCS 1205/6
7    20 ILCS 1205/6afrom Ch. 17, par. 107
8    20 ILCS 1205/7from Ch. 17, par. 108
9    20 ILCS 1205/8from Ch. 17, par. 109
10    20 ILCS 1205/15from Ch. 17, par. 116
11    20 ILCS 1205/16from Ch. 17, par. 117
12    20 ILCS 1205/17from Ch. 17, par. 118
13    20 ILCS 1205/18from Ch. 17, par. 119
14    20 ILCS 1205/18.2 new
15    20 ILCS 1205/18.3 new
16    20 ILCS 1205/18.4 new
17    20 ILCS 1205/18.5 new
18    20 ILCS 1205/9 rep.
19    20 ILCS 1205/10 rep.
20    20 ILCS 1205/11 rep.
21    20 ILCS 1205/12 rep.
22    20 ILCS 1205/13 rep.
23    20 ILCS 1205/13.5 rep.
24    20 ILCS 1205/14 rep.
25    205 ILCS 405/19from Ch. 17, par. 4835

 

 

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1    205 ILCS 660/8from Ch. 17, par. 5208
2    205 ILCS 670/9from Ch. 17, par. 5409
3    205 ILCS 670/15from Ch. 17, par. 5415
4    205 ILCS 670/20.5
5    205 ILCS 740/13.2was 225 ILCS 425/13.2
6    815 ILCS 122/4-10