State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Engrossed ][ Enrolled ][ House Amendment 001 ]
[ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_SB0497

      205 ILCS 635/1-3          from Ch. 17, par. 2321-3
      205 ILCS 635/1-4          from Ch. 17, par. 2321-4
      205 ILCS 635/4-1          from Ch. 17, par. 2324-1
      205 ILCS 635/4-2          from Ch. 17, par. 2324-2
      205 ILCS 635/4-8          from Ch. 17, par. 2324-8
      205 ILCS 635/4-10         from Ch. 17, par. 2324-10
          Amends the Residential  Mortgage  License  Act  of  1987.
      Provides  that  examinations  of licensees shall be conducted
      for cause rather than merely on a periodic basis.   Abolishes
      the exemption for licensees under the Real Estate License Act
      of  1983.   Requires  an  entity  to  either  have a physical
      presence in Illinois or not originate mortgage loans  in  its
      ordinary  course of business to qualify for exemption related
      to volume of business.  Provides that default rate provisions
      apply only to licensees that service, fund,  or  make  credit
      decisions regarding mortgage loans.  Prohibits the limitation
      of  fees.  Requires the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate
      to maintain a registry of employees of licensees.
                                                     LRB9001616JSgc
                                               LRB9001616JSgc
 1        AN ACT to amend the Residential Mortgage License  Act  of
 2    1987 by changing Sections 1-3, 1-4, 4-1, 4-2, 4-8, and 4-10.
 3        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section 5.  The Residential Mortgage License Act of  1987
 6    is  amended by changing Sections 1-3, 1-4, 4-1, 4-2, 4-8, and
 7    4-10 as follows:
 8        (205 ILCS 635/1-3) (from Ch. 17, par. 2321-3)
 9        Sec. 1-3.  Necessity for License; Scope of Act.
10        (a) No person, partnership, association, corporation,  or
11    other  entity,  or  affiliate  thereof  shall  engage  in the
12    business of brokering,  funding,  originating,  servicing  or
13    purchasing   of  residential  mortgage  loans  without  first
14    obtaining a license from the Commissioner in accordance  with
15    the  licensing  procedure provided in this Article I and such
16    regulations as may be promulgated by the  Commissioner.   The
17    licensing  provisions  of this Section shall not apply to any
18    entity engaged solely in commercial mortgage  lending  or  to
19    any  person,  partnership  association,  corporation or other
20    entity exempted pursuant to Section 1-4, subsection  (d),  of
21    this Act or in accordance with regulations promulgated by the
22    Commissioner hereunder.
23        (b)  No person, partnership, association, corporation, or
24    other  entity  except  a licensee under this Act or an entity
25    exempt from licensing pursuant  to  Section  1-4,  subsection
26    (d),  of  this  Act  shall  do any business under any name or
27    title, or circulate  or  use  any  advertising  or  make  any
28    representation  or  give any information to any person, which
29    indicates or reasonably implies activity within the scope  of
30    this Act.
31        (c)  The  Commissioner may, through the Attorney General,
                            -2-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1    request the circuit court of either Cook or  Sangamon  County
 2    to  issue an injunction to restrain any person from violating
 3    or continuing to violate any of the foregoing  provisions  of
 4    this Section.
 5        (d)  When   the  Commissioner  has  reasonable  cause  to
 6    believe  that  any  entity  which  has   not   submitted   an
 7    application for licensure is conducting any of the activities
 8    described  in  subsection  (a) hereof, the Commissioner shall
 9    have the power to examine all books and records of the entity
10    and  any  additional  documentation  necessary  in  order  to
11    determine whether such entity should  become  licensed  under
12    this Act.
13        (e)  Any person, partnership, association, corporation or
14    other  entity  who  violates  any  provision  of this Section
15    commits a business offense and shall be fined an  amount  not
16    to exceed $5,000.
17        (f)  Each  person,  partnership, association, corporation
18    or other entity conducting activities regulated by  this  Act
19    shall  be issued one license.  Each office, place of business
20    or location at which a residential mortgage licensee conducts
21    any part of his or her business must  be  recorded  with  the
22    Commissioner pursuant to Section 2-8 of this Act.
23        (g)  Licensees  under  this  Act  shall  solicit, broker,
24    fund, originate, service and  purchase  residential  mortgage
25    loans  only in conformity with the provisions of this Act and
26    such rules and regulations  as  may  be  promulgated  by  the
27    Commissioner.
28        (h)  This  Act  applies to all entities doing business in
29    Illinois as residential mortgage bankers, as defined  by  "An
30    Act  to  provide  for  the  regulation  of mortgage bankers",
31    approved  September  15,  1977,  as  amended,  regardless  of
32    whether licensed under that or any prior Act.   Any  existing
33    residential mortgage lender or residential mortgage broker in
34    Illinois  whether or not previously licensed, must operate in
                            -3-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1    accordance with this Act.
 2        (i)  This Act is a successor Act to and a continuance  of
 3    the  regulation  of residential mortgage bankers provided in,
 4    "An Act to provide for the regulation of  mortgage  bankers",
 5    approved September 15, 1977, as amended.
 6        Entities and persons subject to the predecessor Act shall
 7    be subject to this Act from and after its effective date.
 8    (Source: P.A. 86-137; 87-642.)
 9        (205 ILCS 635/1-4) (from Ch. 17, par. 2321-4)
10        Sec. 1-4.  Definitions.
11        (a)  "Residential  real  property"  or  "residential real
12    estate" shall  mean  real  property  located  in  this  State
13    improved  by  a one-to-four family dwelling used or occupied,
14    wholly or partly, as the home or residence  of  one  or  more
15    persons   and  may  refer,  subject  to  regulations  of  the
16    Commissioner, to unimproved real property  upon  which  those
17    kinds dwellings are to be constructed.
18        (b)  "Making  a  residential mortgage loan" or "funding a
19    residential mortgage loan" shall  mean  for  compensation  or
20    gain,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  advancing  funds or
21    making a commitment to advance funds to a loan applicant  for
22    a residential mortgage loan.
23        (c)  "Soliciting,  processing,  placing, or negotiating a
24    residential mortgage loan" shall  mean  for  compensation  or
25    gain, either directly or indirectly, accepting or offering to
26    accept  an  application  for  a  residential  mortgage  loan,
27    assisting  or  offering  to  assist  in  the processing of an
28    application for a residential mortgage loan on  behalf  of  a
29    borrower,  or  negotiating or offering to negotiate the terms
30    or conditions of a residential mortgage loan with a lender on
31    behalf of a borrower  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the
32    submission  of  credit  packages for the approval of lenders,
33    the  preparation  of  residential   mortgage   loan   closing
                            -4-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1    documents, including a closing in the name of a broker.
 2        (d)  "Exempt entity" shall mean the following:
 3             (1) (i)  Any banking organization or foreign banking
 4        corporation  licensed  by  the  Illinois  Commissioner of
 5        Banks and Real Estate or the United States Comptroller of
 6        the Currency to transact business in this State; (ii) any
 7        national  bank,  federally  chartered  savings  and  loan
 8        association, federal savings bank, federal credit  union;
 9        (iii)  any  pension  trust,  bank  trust,  or  bank trust
10        company; (iv) any savings and loan  association,  savings
11        bank, or credit union organized under the laws of this or
12        any  other  state;  (v) any Illinois Consumer Installment
13        Loan Act licensee; (vi) any insurance company  authorized
14        to  transact  business  in  this  State; (vii) any entity
15        engaged solely in commercial mortgage lending; (viii) any
16        service corporation of a savings and loan association  or
17        savings  bank  organized  under the laws of this State or
18        the service corporation of a federally chartered  savings
19        and loan association or savings bank having its principal
20        place  of  business  in  this State, other than a service
21        corporation licensed or entitled to reciprocity under the
22        Real Estate License Act of 1983; or (ix) any  first  tier
23        subsidiary  of  a  bank,  the  charter of which is issued
24        under  the  Illinois  Banking   Act   by   the   Illinois
25        Commissioner  of Banks and Real Estate, or the first tier
26        subsidiary of a  bank  chartered  by  the  United  States
27        Comptroller  of  the  Currency and that has its principal
28        place of business in this State, provided that the  first
29        tier  subsidiary  is  regularly  examined by the Illinois
30        Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate or the  Comptroller
31        of  the Currency, or a consumer compliance examination is
32        regularly conducted by the Federal Reserve Board.
33             (2)  Any person or entity  that  either  (i)  has  a
34        physical  presence in Illinois or (ii) does not originate
                            -5-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1        mortgage loans in the ordinary course of business  making
 2        or  acquiring  residential mortgage loans with his or her
 3        own funds for his or her own investment without intent to
 4        make,  acquire,  or  resell  more  than  10   residential
 5        mortgage loans in any one calendar year.
 6             (3)  Any  person employed by a licensee to assist in
 7        the performance of the activities regulated by  this  Act
 8        who is compensated in any manner by only one licensee.
 9             (4)  (Blank).   Any  person licensed pursuant to the
10        Real Estate License Act of 1983, who engages only in  the
11        taking   of   applications   and   credit  and  appraisal
12        information to forward to a licensee or an exempt  entity
13        under  this  Act  and  who  is  compensated  by  either a
14        licensee or an exempt entity under this Act, but  is  not
15        compensated  by  either  the  buyer  (applicant)  or  the
16        seller.
17             (5)  Any  individual,  corporation,  partnership, or
18        other  entity  that  originates,  services,  or   brokers
19        residential  mortgage  loans,  as  these  activities  are
20        defined  in  this  Act,  and  who  or  which  receives no
21        compensation  for  those  activities,  subject   to   the
22        Commissioner's  regulations with regard to the nature and
23        amount of compensation.
24             (6)  A person who prepares supporting  documentation
25        for  a  residential  mortgage loan application taken by a
26        licensee and performs  ministerial functions pursuant  to
27        specific   instructions   of  the  licensee  who  neither
28        requires nor permits the preparer to exercise his or  her
29        discretion  or  judgment;  provided that this activity is
30        engaged in  pursuant  to  a  binding,  written  agreement
31        between the licensee and the preparer that:
32                  (A)  holds  the  licensee fully accountable for
33             the preparer's action; and
34                  (B)  otherwise meets the requirements  of  this
                            -6-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1             Section   and  this  Act,  does  not  undermine  the
 2             purposes  of  this  Act,  and  is  approved  by  the
 3             Commissioner.
 4        (e)  "Licensee" or "residential mortgage licensee"  shall
 5    mean  a person, partnership, association, corporation, or any
 6    other entity who or which is licensed pursuant to this Act to
 7    engage in the activities regulated by this Act.
 8        (f)  "Mortgage loan" "residential mortgage loan" or "home
 9    mortgage loan" shall mean a loan to or for the benefit of any
10    natural  person  made  primarily  for  personal,  family,  or
11    household use, primarily secured  by  either  a  mortgage  on
12    residential  real  property or certificates of stock or other
13    evidence of ownership interests  in  and  proprietary  leases
14    from,   corporations,   partnerships,  or  limited  liability
15    companies formed for the purpose of cooperative ownership  of
16    residential real property, all located in Illinois.
17        (g)  "Lender"   shall   mean   any  person,  partnership,
18    association, corporation, or  any  other  entity  who  either
19    lends or invests money in residential mortgage loans.
20        (h)  "Ultimate  equitable owner" shall mean a person who,
21    directly  or  indirectly,  owns  or  controls  an   ownership
22    interest   in   a  corporation,  foreign  corporation,  alien
23    business organization, trust, or any other form  of  business
24    organization   regardless  of  whether  the  person  owns  or
25    controls the ownership interest through one or  more  persons
26    or  one  or  more  proxies,  powers  of  attorney,  nominees,
27    corporations, associations, partnerships, trusts, joint stock
28    companies,  or  other entities or devices, or any combination
29    thereof.
30        (i)  "Residential mortgage financing  transaction"  shall
31    mean  the  negotiation, acquisition, sale, or arrangement for
32    or the offer to negotiate, acquire, sell, or arrange  for,  a
33    residential   mortgage  loan  or  residential  mortgage  loan
34    commitment.
                            -7-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1        (j)  "Personal residence address"  shall  mean  a  street
 2    address and shall not include a post office box number.
 3        (k)  "Residential  mortgage loan commitment" shall mean a
 4    contract for residential mortgage loan financing.
 5        (l)  "Party   to   a   residential   mortgage   financing
 6    transaction" shall mean a borrower, lender, or loan broker in
 7    a residential mortgage financing transaction.
 8        (m)  "Payments" shall mean payment of all or any  of  the
 9    following: principal, interest and escrow reserves for taxes,
10    insurance  and  other related reserves, and reimbursement for
11    lender advances.
12        (n)  "Commissioner" shall mean the Commissioner of  Banks
13    and  Real  Estate or a person authorized by the Commissioner,
14    the Office of Banks and Real Estate Act, or this Act  to  act
15    in the Commissioner's stead .
16        (o)  "Loan   brokering",   "brokering",   or   "brokerage
17    service" shall mean the act of helping to obtain from another
18    entity,  for  a  borrower, a loan secured by residential real
19    estate situated  in  Illinois  or  assisting  a  borrower  in
20    obtaining  a loan secured by residential real estate situated
21    in Illinois in return for consideration to be paid by  either
22    the  borrower  or  the  lender including, but not limited to,
23    contracting for the delivery of residential mortgage loans to
24    a third party lender and soliciting, processing, placing,  or
25    negotiating residential mortgage loans.
26        (p)  "Loan  broker"  or  "broker"  shall  mean  a person,
27    partnership, association, corporation, or  limited  liability
28    company,    other    than    those   persons,   partnerships,
29    associations, corporations, or  limited  liability  companies
30    exempted  from  licensing pursuant to Section 1-4, subsection
31    (d), of this Act, who performs the  activities  described  in
32    subsections (c) and (o) of this Section.
33        (q)  "Servicing"  shall mean the collection or remittance
34    for or the right or obligation to collect or  remit  for  any
                            -8-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1    lender,  noteowner,  noteholder,  or  for  a  licensee's  own
 2    account,  of  payments, interests, principal, and trust items
 3    such as hazard insurance and taxes on a residential  mortgage
 4    loan in accordance with the terms of the residential mortgage
 5    loan;  and  includes loan payment follow-up, delinquency loan
 6    follow-up,  loan  analysis  and  any  notifications  to   the
 7    borrower  that  are  necessary to enable the borrower to keep
 8    the loan current and in good standing.
 9        (r)  "Full service office" shall mean office and staff in
10    Illinois   reasonably   adequate   to   handle    efficiently
11    communications,  questions, and other matters relating to any
12    application for, or an  existing  home  mortgage  secured  by
13    residential  real estate situated in Illinois with respect to
14    which  the  licensee  is  brokering,   funding   originating,
15    purchasing,  or  servicing.   The management and operation of
16    each full service office  must  include  observance  of  good
17    business  practices such as adequate, organized, and accurate
18    books and records; ample  phone  lines,  hours  of  business,
19    staff training and supervision, and provision for a mechanism
20    to resolve consumer inquiries, complaints, and problems.  The
21    Commissioner  shall  issue  regulations  with regard to these
22    requirements and shall include an  evaluation  of  compliance
23    with  this Section in his or her periodic examination of each
24    licensee.
25        (s)  "Purchasing" shall mean the purchase of conventional
26    or government-insured mortgage loans secured  by  residential
27    real  estate  situated  in Illinois from either the lender or
28    from the secondary market.
29        (t)  "Borrower" shall mean the person or persons who seek
30    the services of a loan broker, originator, or lender.
31        (u)  "Originating" shall mean the issuing of  commitments
32    for and funding of residential mortgage loans.
33        (v)  "Loan  brokerage  agreement"  shall  mean  a written
34    agreement in which a broker  or  loan  broker  agrees  to  do
                            -9-                LRB9001616JSgc
 1    either of the following:
 2             (1)  obtain  a  residential  mortgage  loan  for the
 3        borrower  or  assist  the   borrower   in   obtaining   a
 4        residential mortgage loan; or
 5             (2)  consider  making a residential mortgage loan to
 6        the borrower.
 7        (w)  "Advertisement"   shall   mean   the   attempt    by
 8    publication,   dissemination,   or   circulation  to  induce,
 9    directly  or  indirectly,  any  person  to   enter   into   a
10    residential  mortgage  loan agreement or residential mortgage
11    loan brokerage agreement relative to a  mortgage  secured  by
12    residential real estate situated in Illinois.
13        (x)  "Residential   Mortgage   Board"   shall   mean  the
14    Residential Mortgage Board created in  Section  1-5  of  this
15    Act.
16        (y)  "Government-insured  mortgage  loan"  shall mean any
17    mortgage loan made on the security of residential real estate
18    insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development or
19    Farmers  Home  Loan  Administration,  or  guaranteed  by  the
20    Veterans Administration.
21        (z)  "Annual audit" shall mean a certified audit  of  the
22    licensee's  books and records and systems of internal control
23    performed by a certified public accountant in accordance with
24    generally  accepted  accounting  principles   and   generally
25    accepted auditing standards.
26        (aa)  "Financial  institution"  shall  mean a savings and
27    loan association, savings  bank,  credit  union,  or  a  bank
28    organized  under  the  laws of Illinois or a savings and loan
29    association, savings bank, credit union or a  bank  organized
30    under  the  laws  of  the  United States and headquartered in
31    Illinois.
32        (bb)  "Escrow agent" shall mean a third party, individual
33    or entity charged with the fiduciary obligation  for  holding
34    escrow  funds  on  a  residential mortgage loan pending final
                            -10-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    payout of those funds in accordance with  the  terms  of  the
 2    residential mortgage loan.
 3        (cc)  "Net worth" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto
 4    in Section 3-5 of this Act.
 5        (dd)  "Affiliate" shall mean:
 6             (1)  any   entity   that  directly  controls  or  is
 7        controlled by the licensee and any other company that  is
 8        directly  affecting activities regulated by this Act that
 9        is controlled by the company that controls the licensee;
10             (2)  any entity:
11                  (A)  that   is    controlled,    directly    or
12             indirectly,  by  a trust or otherwise, by or for the
13             benefit  of   shareholders   who   beneficially   or
14             otherwise  control, directly or indirectly, by trust
15             or otherwise,  the  licensee  or  any  company  that
16             controls the licensee; or
17                  (B)  a majority of the directors or trustees of
18             which  constitute  a majority of the persons holding
19             any such office with the  licensee  or  any  company
20             that controls the licensee;
21             (3)  any company, including a real estate investment
22        trust,  that  is  sponsored  and advised on a contractual
23        basis by the licensee or any subsidiary or  affiliate  of
24        the licensee.
25        The  Commissioner  may  define by rule and regulation any
26    terms  used  in  this  Act  for  the  efficient   and   clear
27    administration of this Act.
28        (ee)  "First   tier   subsidiary"  shall  be  defined  by
29    regulation incorporating the comparable definitions  used  by
30    the  Office  of  the  Comptroller  of  the  Currency  and the
31    Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate.
32        (ff)  "Gross  delinquency  rate"   means   the   quotient
33    determined  by  dividing  (1)  the  sum  of (i) the number of
34    government-insured  residential  mortgage  loans  funded   or
                            -11-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    purchased  by  a licensee in the preceding calendar year that
 2    are  delinquent  and  (ii)   the   number   of   conventional
 3    residential   mortgage  loans  funded  or  purchased  by  the
 4    licensee in the preceding calendar year that  are  delinquent
 5    by  (2)  the  sum  of  (i)  the  number of government-insured
 6    residential  mortgage  loans  funded  or  purchased  by   the
 7    licensee  in  the preceding calendar year and (ii) the number
 8    of  conventional  residential  mortgage   loans   funded   or
 9    purchased by the licensee in the preceding calendar year.
10        (gg)  "Delinquency  rate  factor" means the factor set by
11    rule of the Commissioner that is multiplied  by  the  average
12    gross  delinquency rate of licensees, determined annually for
13    the immediately preceding calendar year, for the  purpose  of
14    determining   which   licensees  shall  be  examined  by  the
15    Commissioner pursuant to subsection (b)  of  Section  4-8  of
16    this Act.
17    (Source: P.A. 89-355, eff. 8-17-95; 89-508, eff. 7-3-96.)
18        (205 ILCS 635/4-1) (from Ch. 17, par. 2324-1)
19        Sec.   4-1.  Commissioner   of  Banks  and  Real  Estate;
20    functions, powers, and duties.  The  functions,  powers,  and
21    duties  of  the  Commissioner  of Banks and Real Estate shall
22    include the following:
23        (a)  To issue or refuse to issue any license as  provided
24    by this Act;
25        (b)  To  revoke  or  suspend for cause any license issued
26    under this Act;
27        (c)  To keep records of all licenses  issued  under  this
28    Act;
29        (d)  To  receive,  consider,  investigate,  and  act upon
30    complaints  made  by  any  person  in  connection  with   any
31    residential mortgage licensee in this State;
32        (e)  To  consider  and  act upon any recommendations from
33    the Residential Mortgage Board;
                            -12-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1        (f)  To prescribe the forms of and receive:
 2             (1)  applications for licenses; and
 3             (2)  all reports and all books and records  required
 4        to  be  made  by  any  licensee under this Act, including
 5        annual audited financial statements and annual reports of
 6        mortgage activity;
 7        (g)  To adopt rules and regulations necessary and  proper
 8    for the administration of this Act;
 9        (h)  To subpoena documents and witnesses and compel their
10    attendance  and  production,  to  administer  oaths,  and  to
11    require  the  production  of  any  books,  papers,  or  other
12    materials relevant to any inquiry authorized by this Act;
13        (i)  To  require  information  with regard to any license
14    applicant as he or she may deem desirable, with due regard to
15    the paramount interests of the public as to  the  experience,
16    background,  honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and competency
17    of  the  license  applicant  as  to  financial   transactions
18    involving  primary  or  subordinate  mortgage  financing, and
19    where the license  applicant  is  an  entity  other  than  an
20    individual,  as  to the honesty, truthfulness, integrity, and
21    competency of any officer or  director  of  the  corporation,
22    association,   or   other   entity,   or  the  members  of  a
23    partnership;
24        (j)  To examine the books and records of  every  licensee
25    under this Act at intervals as specified in Section 4-2;
26        (k)  To enforce provisions of this Act;
27        (l)  To  levy  fees,  fines,  and  charges  for  services
28    performed  in  administering  this  Act; the aggregate of all
29    fees collected by the Commissioner on and after the effective
30    date of this Act shall be paid promptly after receipt of  the
31    same,  accompanied  by a detailed statement thereof, into the
32    Savings and Residential Finance Regulatory Fund; the  amounts
33    deposited  into  that Fund shall be used for the ordinary and
34    contingent expenses of the Office of Banks and  Real  Estate.
                            -13-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    Nothing  in this Act shall prevent continuing the practice of
 2    paying  expenses  involving  salaries,   retirement,   social
 3    security,  and  State-paid  insurance  of  State  officers by
 4    appropriation from the General Revenue Fund;.
 5        (m)  To  appoint  examiners,  supervisors,  experts,  and
 6    special assistants as needed to effectively  and  efficiently
 7    administer this Act; and
 8        (n)  To conduct hearings for the purpose of:
 9             (1)  appeals of orders of the Commissioner;
10             (2)  suspensions  or  revocations  of  licenses,  or
11        fining of licensees;
12             (3)  investigating:
13                  (i)  complaints against licensees; or
14                  (ii)  annual gross delinquency rates; and
15             (4)  carrying out the purposes of this Act; and.
16        (o)  To  maintain  a  registry  of  persons employed by a
17    licensee to assist in the performance of activities regulated
18    under this Act.
19    (Source: P.A. 89-355, eff. 8-17-95; 89-508, eff. 7-3-96.)
20        (205 ILCS 635/4-2) (from Ch. 17, par. 2324-2)
21        Sec. 4-2.  Examination; prohibited activities.
22        (a)  The business affairs of a licensee  under  this  Act
23    may,  for  cause,  shall be examined for compliance with this
24    Act as often as the Commissioner deems necessary and  proper.
25    The  Commissioner  shall promulgate rules with respect to the
26    frequency and manner of examination.   The Commissioner shall
27    appoint a suitable person to perform such  examination.   The
28    Commissioner and his appointees may examine the entire books,
29    records,  documents,  and operations of each licensee and may
30    examine any of the licensee's officers, directors,  employees
31    and agents under oath.
32        (b)  The  Commissioner  shall prepare a full and detailed
33    report of each licensee's examination, shall issue a copy  of
                            -14-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    such  report  to  each  licensee's  principals,  officers, or
 2    directors  and  shall  take  appropriate  steps   to   ensure
 3    correction of violations of this Act.
 4        (c)  Affiliates   of  a  licensee  shall  be  subject  to
 5    examination by the Commissioner on  the  same  terms  as  the
 6    licensee,  but  only  when  reports from, or examination of a
 7    licensee  provides  for  documented  evidence   of   unlawful
 8    activity   between   a  licensee  and  affiliate  benefiting,
 9    affecting or deriving from the activities regulated  by  this
10    Act.
11        (d)  The  expenses of any examination of the licensee and
12    affiliates shall be borne by the licensee and assessed by the
13    Commissioner as established by regulation.
14        (e)  Upon completion of the examination, the Commissioner
15    shall issue  a  report  to  the  licensee.   The  examination
16    report, and the work papers of the report shall belong to the
17    Commissioner's  office  and  may  not  be disclosed to anyone
18    other than the licensee, law enforcement officials  or  other
19    regulatory   agencies   that   shall   be  defined  in  rules
20    promulgated by the Commissioner, or to a party  presenting  a
21    lawful  subpoena  to  the Office of the Commissioner. Reports
22    required of licensees by the Commissioner under this Act  and
23    results  of  examinations performed by the Commissioner under
24    this Act shall be the property of only the licensee  and  the
25    Commissioner.  Access under this Act to the books and records
26    of each licensee shall be limited to the Commissioner and his
27    agents  as  provided  in this Act and to the licensee and its
28    authorized agents and designees.  No other person shall  have
29    access to the books and records of a licensee under this Act.
30        (f)  The    Commissioner,   deputy   commissioners,   and
31    employees of the Office of Banks and  Real  Estate  shall  be
32    subject  to  the  restrictions provided in Section 2.5 of the
33    Office of  Banks  and  Real  Estate  Act  including,  without
34    limitation, the restrictions on (i) owning shares of stock or
                            -15-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    holding  any  other  equity  interest  in an entity regulated
 2    under this Act or in any corporation or company that owns  or
 3    controls  an  entity  regulated under this Act; (ii) being an
 4    officer, director, employee, or agent of an entity  regulated
 5    under  this  Act;  and  (iii) obtaining a loan or accepting a
 6    gratuity from an entity regulated under this Act.
 7        (g)  After the initial examination  for  those  licensees
 8    whose  only  mortgage  activity  is  servicing fewer than 500
 9    Illinois  residential  loans,  the  examination  required  in
10    subsection (a) may be waived upon submission of a letter from
11    the  licensee's  independent  certified  auditor   that   the
12    licensee  serviced  fewer than 500 Illinois residential loans
13    during the year in which the audit was performed.
14    (Source: P.A. 89-355, eff. 8-17-95; 89-508, eff. 7-3-96.)
15        (205 ILCS 635/4-8) (from Ch. 17, par. 2324-8)
16        Sec. 4-8.  Gross delinquency rate; examination.
17        (a)  The gross delinquency rate of each licensee shall be
18    determined  annually  by   the   Commissioner.    The   gross
19    delinquency rate shall be the figure used by the Commissioner
20    to  monitor  the delinquency performance of licensees dealing
21    in mortgages.
22        (b)  The Commissioner shall  conduct  an  examination  of
23    each  licensee that (i) services mortgage loans, makes credit
24    decisions to fund mortgage loans, or   funds  mortgage  loans
25    using  its  own money and (ii) has having a gross delinquency
26    rate equal to or greater than the product of (1) the  average
27    gross  delinquency  rate of all licensees for the immediately
28    preceding calendar year, as determined  by  the  Commissioner
29    under  subsection  (a) and (2) the delinquency rate factor as
30    set by rule of the Commissioner.
31        (c)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b),  a
32    licensee  with  an annual gross delinquency rate that is less
33    than or equal to 5% for the  immediately  preceding  calendar
                            -16-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    year  shall  not  be  examined  by  the Commissioner for that
 2    calendar year.  This subsection shall not be construed  as  a
 3    limitation  of the Commissioner's examination authority under
 4    Section 4-2 of this Act or as otherwise provided in this Act.
 5        (d)  The purpose of the examination under subsection  (b)
 6    shall  be  to determine whether the gross delinquency rate of
 7    the licensee has resulted from practices which  deviate  from
 8    sound and accepted mortgage underwriting practices, including
 9    but not limited to credit fraud, appraisal fraud and property
10    inspection  fraud.    For  the  purpose  of  conducting  this
11    examination,  the  Commissioner may accept materials prepared
12    for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.  At
13    the  conclusion  of  the  examination, the Commissioner shall
14    make  his  or  her  findings  available  to  the  Residential
15    Mortgage Board.
16        (e)  The Commissioner, at his or her discretion, may hold
17    public hearings, or  at  the  direction  of  the  Residential
18    Mortgage  Board,  shall  hold public hearings. Such testimony
19    shall be by a homeowner or  mortgagor  or  his  agent,  whose
20    residential  interest  is  affected  by the activities of the
21    residential mortgage licensee subject  to  such  hearing.  At
22    such  public  hearing, a witness may present testimony on his
23    or her behalf concerning  only  his  or  her  home,  or  home
24    mortgage  or  a witness may authorize a third party to appear
25    on his or her behalf.  The testimony shall be  restricted  to
26    information  and  comments related to a specific residence or
27    specific residential mortgage application or applications for
28    a residential mortgage or residential loan transaction.   The
29    testimony must be preceded by either a letter of complaint or
30    a   completed  consumer  complaint  form  prescribed  by  the
31    Commissioner.
32        (f)  The Commissioner shall, at  the  conclusion  of  the
33    public  hearings,  release his or her findings and shall also
34    make public any action taken with respect  to  the  licensee.
                            -17-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1    The  Commissioner  shall  also give full consideration to the
 2    findings of this examination whenever reapplication  is  made
 3    by the licensee for a new license under this Act.
 4        (g)  A  licensee  that is examined pursuant to subsection
 5    (b) shall submit to the Commissioner a plan  which  shall  be
 6    designed  to reduce that licensee's gross delinquency rate to
 7    a figure that is less than or  equal  to  the  average  gross
 8    delinquency  rate for all licensees for the calendar year for
 9    which the delinquency data was submitted.  The plan shall  be
10    implemented  by the licensee as approved by the Commissioner.
11    A licensee that is examined pursuant to subsection (b)  shall
12    report  monthly,  for  a one year period, one, 2, and 3 month
13    delinquencies.
14        (h)  Whenever the Commissioner finds  that  a  licensee's
15    gross delinquency rate on insured mortgages is unusually high
16    within  a particular geographic area, he or she shall require
17    that licensee to submit such information as is  necessary  to
18    determine  whether that licensee's practices have constituted
19    credit fraud, appraisal fraud or property  inspection  fraud.
20    The Commissioner shall promulgate such rules as are necessary
21    to determine whether any licensee's gross delinquency rate is
22    unusually high within a particular area.
23    (Source: P.A. 89-355, eff. 1-1-96; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96.)
24        (205 ILCS 635/4-10) (from Ch. 17, par. 2324-10)
25        Sec. 4-10.  Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner.
26        (a)  In  addition  to such powers as may be prescribed by
27    this Act, the Commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered
28    to promulgate regulations consistent  with  the  purposes  of
29    this Act, including but not limited to:
30             (1)  Such  rules  and regulations in connection with
31        the activities of  licensees  as  may  be  necessary  and
32        appropriate  for  the  protection  of  consumers  in this
33        State;
                            -18-               LRB9001616JSgc
 1             (2)  Such rules and regulations as may be  necessary
 2        and appropriate to define improper or fraudulent business
 3        practices  in connection with the activities of licensees
 4        in making mortgage loans;
 5             (3)  Such rules and regulations as  may  define  the
 6        terms  used  in  this  Act  and  as  may be necessary and
 7        appropriate to interpret and implement the provisions  of
 8        this Act; and
 9             (4)  Such  rules and regulations as may be necessary
10        for the enforcement of this Act.
11        (b)  The Commissioner is hereby authorized and  empowered
12    to make such specific rulings, demands, and findings as he or
13    she may deem necessary for the proper conduct of the mortgage
14    lending industry.
15        (c)  The Commissioner may not make any rule that directly
16    or  indirectly  limits  fees charged to consumers if the fees
17    are fully disclosed, subject to a written agreement, and  not
18    in violation of any law.  The Commissioner may not restrict a
19    licensee's  ability  to  pursue  remedies  against a consumer
20    under a contract or agreement with the consumer.
21    (Source: P.A. 85-735.)

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