To amend sections 1315.26, 1321.13, 1321.15, 1321.57, 1321.59, 1321.99, and 4712.07 and to enact section 4712.021 of the Revised Code to establish certain consumer protections with respect to small loans to be known as the Small Loan Consumer Protection Act.

Section 1. That sections 1315.26, 1321.13, 1321.15, 1321.57, 1321.59, 1321.99, and 4712.07 be amended and section 4712.021 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 1315.26.  (A) No check-cashing business shall charge check-cashing fees or other check-cashing charges in an amount that exceeds three per cent of the face amount of the check for cashing checks issued by this state, a state agency, a political subdivision of this state, or the United States.

(B) Each check-cashing business shall conspicuously post and at all times display in every business location a schedule of its fees and charges for all services permitted under sections 1315.21 to 1315.28 of the Revised Code.

(C) No check-cashing business shall charge a fee for cashing a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund a loan made by the licensee or an affiliate of the licensee.

Sec. 1321.13.  (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code, a licensee may contract for and receive interest, calculated according to the actuarial method, at a rate or rates not exceeding twenty-eight per cent per year on that portion of the unpaid principal balance of the loan not exceeding one thousand dollars and twenty-two per cent per year on any part of the unpaid principal balance exceeding one thousand dollars. A licensee may contract for and receive interest at the single annual rate that would earn the same total interest at maturity of the loan, when the loan is paid according to its agreed terms, as would be earned by the application of the graduated rates set forth in this division. Loans may be interest-bearing or precomputed.

(B) For purposes of computation of time on interest-bearing and precomputed loans, including, but not limited to, the calculation of interest, a month is considered one-twelfth of a year, and a day is considered one three hundred sixty-fifth of a year when calculation is made for a fraction of a month. A year is as defined in section 1.44 of the Revised Code. A month is that period described in section 1.45 of the Revised Code.

(C) With respect to interest-bearing loans:

(1) Interest shall be computed on unpaid principal balances outstanding from time to time, for the time outstanding. Each payment shall be applied first to unpaid charges and fees, then to interest, and the remainder to the unpaid principal balance. However, if the amount of the payment is insufficient to pay the accumulated interest, the unpaid interest continues to accumulate to be paid from the proceeds of subsequent payments and is not added to the principal balance. If the maturity of the loan is accelerated for any reason and judgment is entered, the licensee may thereafter charge the same rate or rates of interest as provided in the loan contract.

(2) Interest shall not be compounded. However, if part or all of the consideration for a new loan contract is the unpaid principal balance of a prior loan, then the principal amount payable under the new loan contract may include any unpaid interest that has accrued. The resulting loan contract shall be deemed a new and separate loan transaction for purposes of this section. The unpaid principal balance of a precomputed loan is the balance due after refund or credit of unearned interest as provided in division (D)(3) of this section.

(D) With respect to precomputed loans:

(1) Loans shall be repayable in substantially equal and consecutive monthly installments of principal and interest combined, except that the first installment period may exceed one month by not more than fifteen days, and the first installment payment amount may be larger than the remaining payments by the amount of interest charged for the extra days; and provided further that monthly installment payment dates may be omitted to accommodate borrowers with seasonal income.

(2) Payments may be applied to the combined total of principal and precomputed interest until maturity of the loan. A licensee may charge interest after the original or deferred maturity of a precomputed loan at the rate or rates provided in division (A) of this section on all unpaid principal balances for the time outstanding.

(3) When any loan contract is paid in full by cash, renewal, refinancing, or a new loan, one month or more before the final installment due date, the licensee shall refund, or credit the borrower with, the total of the applicable charges for all fully unexpired installment periods, as originally scheduled or as deferred, that follow the day of prepayment. If the prepayment is made other than on a scheduled installment installment due date, the nearest scheduled due date shall be used in such computation. If the prepayment occurs prior to the first installment due date, the licensee may retain one-thirtieth of the applicable charge for a first installment period of one month for each day from date of loan to date of prepayment, and shall refund, or credit the borrower with, the balance of the total interest contracted for. If the maturity of the loan is accelerated for any reason and judgment is entered, the licensee shall credit the borrower with the same refund as if prepayment in full had been made on the date the judgment is entered and may thereafter convert the loan to an interest-bearing loan at the same rate or rates of interest as provided in the loan contract. If the maturity of the loan is accelerated for any reason, the licensee may convert the loan to an interest-bearing loan at the same rate or rates of interest as provided in the loan contract, provided the licensee credits the borrower with the same refund on the precomputed loan as if prepayment in full had been made on the date of the conversion.

(4) If the parties agree in writing, either in the loan contract or in a subsequent agreement, to a deferment of wholly unpaid installments, a licensee may grant a deferment and may collect a deferment charge as provided in this section. A deferment postpones the scheduled due date of the earliest unpaid installment and all subsequent installments as originally scheduled, or as previously deferred, for a period equal to the deferment period. The deferment period is that period during which no installment is scheduled to be paid by reason of the deferment. The deferment charge for a one-month period may not exceed the applicable charge for the installment period immediately following the due date of the last undeferred installment. A proportionate charge may be made for deferment for periods of more or less than one month. A deferment charge is earned prorata pro rata during the deferment period and is fully earned on the last day of the deferment period. If a loan is prepaid in full during a deferment period, the licensee shall make, or credit to the borrower, a refund of the unearned deferment charge in addition to any other refund or credit made for prepayment of the loan in full.

(E) A licensee, at the request of the borrower, may obtain, on one or more borrowers, credit life insurance, credit accident and health insurance, and unemployment insurance. The premium or identifiable charge for the insurance may be included in the principal amount of the loan and may not exceed the premium rate filed by the insurer with the superintendent of insurance and not disapproved by him the superintendent. If a licensee obtains the insurance at the request of the borrower, the borrower shall have the right to cancel the insurance for a period of twenty-five days after the loan is made. If the borrower chooses to cancel the insurance, the borrower shall give the licensee written notice of this choice and shall return all of the policies or certificates of insurance or notices of proposed insurance to the licensee during such period, and the full premium or identifiable charge for the insurance shall be refunded to the borrower by the licensee. If the borrower requests, in the notice to cancel the insurance, that this refund be applied to reduce the balance of a precomputed loan, the licensee shall credit the amount of the refund plus the amount of interest applicable to the refund to the loan balance.

(F) A licensee may require the borrower to provide insurance or a loss payable endorsement covering reasonable risks of loss, damage, and destruction of property used as security for the loan and with the consent of the borrower such insurance may cover property other than that which is security for the loan. The amount and term of required property insurance shall be reasonable in relation to the amount and term of the loan contract and the type and value of the security, and the insurance shall be procured in accordance with the insurance laws of this state. The purchase of this insurance through the licensee or an agent or broker designated by the licensee shall not be a condition precedent to the granting of the loan. If the borrower purchases the insurance from or through the licensee or from another source, the premium may be included in the principal amount of the loan.

(G) In addition to the interest and charges provided for by this section, no further or other amount shall be charged, received, or required by the licensee, including any fees assessed by a credit services organization that holds or is required to hold a certificate of registration under section 4712.02 of the Revised Code, except the amounts of fees authorized by law to record, file, or release security interests on a loan and fees for credit reports, which amounts may be included in the principal amount of the loan or collected at any time after the loan is made, and except costs and disbursements to which the licensee may become entitled by law in connection with any suit to collect a loan or any lawful activity to realize on a security interest after default.

(H) If the loan contract or security instrument contains covenants by the borrower to perform certain duties pertaining to insuring or preserving security and the licensee pursuant to the loan contract or security instrument pays for performance of the duties on behalf of the borrower, the licensee may add the amounts paid to the unpaid principal balance of the loan or collect them separately. A charge for interest may be made for sums advanced not exceeding the rate of interest permitted by division (A) of this section. Within a reasonable time after advancing a sum, the licensee shall notify the borrower in writing of the amount advanced, any interest charged with respect to the amount advanced, any revised payment schedule, and shall include a brief description of the reason for the advance.

(I) A Except as prohibited in division (C) of section 1321.15 of the Revised Code, a licensee may charge and receive loan origination charges not exceeding the following:

(1) On loans in the principal amount of five hundred dollars of or less, the greater of fifteen dollars or one per cent of the principal amount of the loan and, on each refinancing made more than six months after the original loan and any previous refinancing, not exceeding fifteen dollars;

(2) On all other loans, the greater of thirty dollars or one percent of the principal amount of the loan and, on each refinancing, not exceeding thirty dollars. Loan origination charges may be paid by the borrower at the time of the loan or may be included in the principal amount of the loan.

(J) A licensee may charge and receive check collection charges not greater than twenty dollars plus any amount passed on from other financial institutions for each check, negotiable order of withdrawal, share draft, or other negotiable instrument returned or dishonored for any reason.

(K) If the loan contract so provides, a licensee may collect a default charge on any installment not paid in full within ten days after its due date. For this purpose, all installments are considered paid in the order in which they become due. Any amounts applied to an outstanding loan balance as a result of voluntary release of a security interest, sale of security on the loan, or cancellation of insurance shall be considered payments on the loan, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing at the time the amounts are applied. The amount of the default charge shall not exceed the greater of five per cent of the scheduled installment or five dollars.

Sec. 1321.15.  (A) No licensee shall knowingly induce or permit any person, jointly or severally, to be obligated, directly or contingently or both, under more than one contract of loan at the same time for the purpose or with the result of obtaining a higher rate of interest or greater charges than would otherwise be permitted upon a single loan made under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code.

(B) No licensee shall charge, contract for, or receive, directly or indirectly, interest and charges greater than such licensee would be permitted to charge, contract for, or receive without a license under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code on any part of an indebtedness for one or more than one loan of money if the amount of such indebtedness is in excess of five thousand dollars.

(C) No licensee shall charge a person a loan origination charge, as otherwise authorized under section 1321.13 of the Revised Code more than once per any ninety-day period on any one or more loans with a principal amount of one thousand dollars or less that is made pursuant to a license issued under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code or a registration issued under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code.

(D) With respect to a loan made under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code, a licensee may not do any of the following:

(1) Charge or receive a fee for cashing a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan;

(2) Require or direct a borrower to cash a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan at the place of business of the licensee, an affiliate of the licensee, or any third party;

(3) Seek or obtain directly or indirectly compensation from any affiliate or third party that provides check-cashing services to cash a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan by the licensee.

(E) No licensee shall require a borrower to obtain membership in an organization or pay a membership fee.

(F) For the purpose of the limitations set forth in this section, the amount of any such indebtedness shall be determined by including the entire obligation of any person to the licensee for principal, direct or contingent or both, as borrower, indorser, guarantor, surety for, or otherwise, whether incurred or subsisting under one or more than one contract of loan, except that any contract of indorsement, guaranty, or suretyship that does not obligate the indorser, guarantor, or surety for any charges in excess of eight per cent per annum, is not included in such entire obligation. If a licensee acquires, directly or indirectly, by purchase or discount, bona fide obligations for goods or services owed by the person who received such goods or services to the person who provided such goods or services, then the amount of such purchased or discounted indebtedness to the licensee shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of such borrower to the licensee for the purpose of the prohibitions set forth in this section.

Sec. 1321.57.  (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code, a registrant may contract for and receive interest, calculated according to the actuarial method, at a rate or rates not exceeding twenty-one per cent per year on the unpaid principal balances of the loan. Loans may be interest-bearing or precomputed.

(B) For purposes of computation of time on interest-bearing and precomputed loans, including, but not limited to, the calculation of interest, a month is considered one-twelfth of a year, and a day is considered one three hundred sixty-fifth of a year when calculation is made for a fraction of a month. A year is as defined in section 1.44 of the Revised Code. A month is that period described in section 1.45 of the Revised Code. Alternatively, a registrant may consider a day as one three hundred sixtieth of a year and each month as having thirty days.

(C) With respect to interest-bearing loans:

(1)(a) Interest shall be computed on unpaid principal balances outstanding from time to time, for the time outstanding.

(b) As an alternative to the method of computing interest set forth in division (C)(1)(a) of this section, a registrant may charge and collect interest for the first installment period based on elapsed time from the date of the loan to the first scheduled payment due date, and for each succeeding installment period from the scheduled payment due date to the next scheduled payment due date, regardless of the date or dates the payments are actually made.

(c) Whether a registrant computes interest pursuant to division (C)(1)(a) or (b) of this section, each payment shall be applied first to unpaid charges, then to interest, and the remainder to the unpaid principal balance. However, if the amount of the payment is insufficient to pay the accumulated interest, the unpaid interest continues to accumulate to be paid from the proceeds of subsequent payments and is not added to the principal balance.

(2) Interest shall not be compounded, collected, or paid in advance. However, both of the following apply:

(a) Interest may be charged to extend the first monthly installment period by not more than fifteen days, and the interest charged for the extension may be added to the principal amount of the loan.

(b) If part or all of the consideration for a new loan contract is the unpaid principal balance of a prior loan, the principal amount payable under the new loan contract may include any unpaid interest that has accrued. The resulting loan contract shall be deemed a new and separate loan transaction for purposes of this section. The unpaid principal balance of a precomputed loan is the balance due after refund or credit of unearned interest as provided in division (D)(3) of this section.

(D) With respect to precomputed loans:

(1) Loans shall be repayable in monthly installments of principal and interest combined, except that the first installment period may exceed one month by not more than fifteen days, and the first installment payment amount may be larger than the remaining payments by the amount of interest charged for the extra days; and provided further that monthly installment payment dates may be omitted to accommodate borrowers with seasonal income.

(2) Payments may be applied to the combined total of principal and precomputed interest until maturity of the loan. A registrant may charge interest after the original or deferred maturity of a precomputed loan at the rate specified in division (A) of this section on all unpaid principal balances for the time outstanding.

(3) When any loan contract is paid in full by cash, renewal, refinancing, or a new loan, one month or more before the final installment due date, the registrant shall refund, or credit the borrower with, the total of the applicable charges for all fully unexpired installment periods, as originally scheduled or as deferred, that follow the day of prepayment. If the prepayment is made other than on a scheduled installment due date, the nearest scheduled installment due date shall be used in such computation. If the prepayment occurs prior to the first installment due date, the registrant may retain one-thirtieth of the applicable charge for a first installment period of one month for each day from date of loan to date of prepayment, and shall refund, or credit the borrower with, the balance of the total interest contracted for. If the maturity of the loan is accelerated for any reason and judgment is entered, the registrant shall credit the borrower with the same refund as if prepayment in full had been made on the date the judgment is entered.

(4) If the parties agree in writing, either in the loan contract or in a subsequent agreement, to a deferment of wholly unpaid installments, a registrant may grant a deferment and may collect a deferment charge as provided in this section. A deferment postpones the scheduled due date of the earliest unpaid installment and all subsequent installments as originally scheduled, or as previously deferred, for a period equal to the deferment period. The deferment period is that period during which no installment is scheduled to be paid by reason of the deferment. The deferment charge for a one-month period may not exceed the applicable charge for the installment period immediately following the due date of the last undeferred installment. A proportionate charge may be made for deferment for periods of more or less than one month. A deferment charge is earned pro rata during the deferment period and is fully earned on the last day of the deferment period. If a loan is prepaid in full during a deferment period, the registrant shall make, or credit to the borrower, a refund of the unearned deferment charge in addition to any other refund or credit made for prepayment of the loan in full.

(E) A registrant, at the request of the borrower, may obtain, on one or more borrowers, credit life insurance, credit accident and health insurance, and unemployment insurance. The premium or identifiable charge for the insurance may be included in the principal amount of the loan and may not exceed the premium rate filed by the insurer with the superintendent of insurance and not disapproved by the superintendent. If a registrant obtains the insurance at the request of the borrower, the borrower shall have the right to cancel the insurance for a period of twenty-five days after the loan is made. If the borrower chooses to cancel the insurance, the borrower shall give the registrant written notice of this choice and shall return all of the policies or certificates of insurance or notices of proposed insurance to the registrant during such period, and the full premium or identifiable charge for the insurance shall be refunded to the borrower by the registrant. If the borrower requests, in the notice to cancel the insurance, that this refund be applied to reduce the balance of a precomputed loan, the registrant shall credit the amount of the refund plus the amount of interest applicable to the refund to the loan balance.

If the registrant obtains the insurance at the request of the borrower, the registrant shall not charge or collect interest on any insured amount that remains unpaid after the insured borrower's date of death.

(F) A registrant may require the borrower to provide insurance or a loss payable endorsement covering reasonable risks of loss, damage, and destruction of property used as security for the loan and with the consent of the borrower such insurance may cover property other than that which is security for the loan. The amount and term of required property insurance shall be reasonable in relation to the amount and term of the loan contract and the type and value of the security, and the insurance shall be procured in accordance with the insurance laws of this state. The purchase of this insurance through the registrant or an agent or broker designated by the registrant shall not be a condition precedent to the granting of the loan. If the borrower purchases the insurance from or through the registrant or from another source, the premium may be included in the principal amount of the loan.

(G) On loans secured by an interest in real estate, all of the following apply:

(1) A registrant, if not prohibited by section 1343.011 of the Revised Code, may charge and receive up to two points, and a prepayment penalty not in excess of one per cent of the original principal amount of the loan. Points may be paid by the borrower at the time of the loan or may be included in the principal amount of the loan. On a refinancing, a registrant may not charge under division (G)(1) of this section either of the following:

(a) Points on the portion of the principal amount that is applied to the unpaid principal amount of the refinanced loan, if the refinancing occurs within one year after the date of the refinanced loan on which points were charged;

(b) A prepayment penalty.

(2) As an alternative to the prepayment penalty described in division (G)(1) of this section, a registrant may contract for, charge, and receive the prepayment penalty described in division (G)(2) of this section for the prepayment of a loan prior to two years after the date the loan contract is executed. This prepayment penalty shall not exceed two per cent of the original principal amount of the loan if the loan is paid in full prior to one year after the date the loan contract is executed. The penalty shall not exceed one per cent of the original principal amount of the loan if the loan is paid in full at any time from one year, but prior to two years, after the date the loan contract is executed. A registrant shall not charge or receive a prepayment penalty under division (G)(2) of this section if any of the following applies:

(a) The loan is a refinancing by the same registrant or a registrant to whom the loan has been assigned;

(b) The loan is paid in full as a result of the sale of the real estate that secures the loan;

(c) The loan is paid in full with the proceeds of an insurance claim against an insurance policy that insures the life of the borrower or an insurance policy that covers loss, damage, or destruction of the real estate that secures the loan.

(3) Division (G) of this section is not a limitation on discount points or other charges for purposes of section 501(b)(4) of the "Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980," 94 Stat. 161, 12 U.S.C.A. 1735f-7 note.

(H)(1) In addition to the interest and charges provided for by this section, no further or other amount, whether in the form of broker fees, including any fees assessed by a credit services organization that holds or is required to hold a certificate of registration under section 4712.02 of the Revised Code, placement fees, or any other fees whatsoever, shall be charged, required, or received by the registrant, except costs and disbursements in connection with any suit to collect a loan or any lawful activity to realize on a security interest or mortgage after default, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the registrant as a result of the suit or activity and to which the registrant becomes entitled by law, and except the following additional charges which may be included in the principal amount of the loan or collected at any time after the loan is made:

(a) The amounts of fees authorized by law to record, file, or release security interests and mortgages on a loan;

(b) With respect to a loan secured by an interest in real estate, the following closing costs, if they are bona fide, reasonable in amount, paid to third parties, and not for the purpose of circumvention or evasion of this section:

(i) Fees or premiums for title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, surveys, title endorsements, title binders, title commitments, home inspections, or pest inspections; settlement or closing costs paid to unaffiliated third parties; courier fees; and any federally mandated flood plain certification fee;

(ii) If not paid to the registrant, an employee of the registrant, or a person affiliated with the registrant, fees for preparation of a mortgage, settlement statement, or other documents, fees for notarizing mortgages and other documents, appraisal fees, and fees for any federally mandated inspection of home improvement work financed by a second mortgage loan;

(c) Fees for credit investigations not exceeding ten dollars.

(2) Division (H)(1) of this section does not limit the rights of registrants to engage in other transactions with borrowers, provided the transactions are not a condition of the loan.

(I) If the loan contract or security instrument contains covenants by the borrower to perform certain duties pertaining to insuring or preserving security and the registrant pursuant to the loan contract or security instrument pays for performance of the duties on behalf of the borrower, the registrant may add the amounts paid to the unpaid principal balance of the loan or collect them separately. A charge for interest may be made for sums advanced not exceeding the rate of interest permitted by division (A) of this section. Within a reasonable time after advancing a sum, the registrant shall notify the borrower in writing of the amount advanced, any interest charged with respect to the amount advanced, any revised payment schedule, and shall include a brief description of the reason for the advance.

(J)(1) In addition to points authorized under division (G) of this section and except as prohibited in section 1321.59 of the Revised Code, a registrant may charge and receive the following:

(a) With respect to loans secured by goods or real estate: if the principal amount of the loan is five hundred dollars or less, loan origination charges not exceeding fifteen dollars; if the principal amount of the loan is more than five hundred dollars but less than one thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding thirty dollars; if the principal amount of the loan is at least one thousand dollars but less than two thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding one hundred dollars; if the principal amount of the loan is at least two thousand dollars but less than five thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding two hundred dollars; and if the principal amount of the loan is at least five thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding the greater of two hundred fifty dollars or one per cent of the principal amount of the loan.

(b) With respect to loans that are not secured by goods or real estate: if the principal amount of the loan is five hundred dollars or less, loan origination charges not exceeding fifteen dollars; if the principal amount of the loan is more than five hundred dollars but less than one thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding thirty dollars; if the principal amount of the loan is at least one thousand dollars but less than five thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding one hundred dollars; and if the principal amount of the loan is at least five thousand dollars, loan origination charges not exceeding the greater of two hundred fifty dollars or one per cent of the principal amount of the loan.

(2) If a refinancing occurs within ninety days after the date of the refinanced loan, a registrant may not impose loan origination charges on the portion of the principal amount that is applied to the unpaid principal amount of the refinanced loan.

(3) Loan origination charges may be paid by the borrower at the time of the loan or may be included in the principal amount of the loan.

(K) A registrant may charge and receive check collection charges not greater than twenty dollars plus any amount passed on from other depository institutions for each check, negotiable order of withdrawal, share draft, or other negotiable instrument returned or dishonored for any reason.

(L) If the loan contract so provides, a registrant may collect a default charge on any installment not paid in full within ten days after its due date. For this purpose, all installments are considered paid in the order in which they become due. Any amounts applied to an outstanding loan balance as a result of voluntary release of a security interest, sale of security on the loan, or cancellation of insurance shall be considered payments on the loan, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing at the time the amounts are applied. The amount of the default charge shall not exceed the greater of five per cent of the scheduled installment or fifteen dollars.

Sec. 1321.59.  (A) No registrant under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code shall permit any borrower to be indebted for a loan made under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code at any time while the borrower is also indebted to an affiliate or agent of the registrant for a loan made under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code for the purpose or with the result of obtaining greater charges than otherwise would be permitted by sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) No registrant shall induce or permit any person to become obligated to the registrant under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code, directly or contingently, or both, under more than one contract of loan at the same time for the purpose or with the result of obtaining greater charges than would otherwise be permitted by sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code.

(C) No registrant shall refuse to provide information regarding the amount required to pay in full a loan under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code when requested by the borrower or by another person designated in writing by the borrower.

(D) On any loan or application for a loan under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code secured by a mortgage on a borrower's real estate which is other than a first lien on the real estate, no person shall pay or receive, directly or indirectly, fees or any other type of compensation for services of a mortgage broker that, in the aggregate, exceed the lesser of one thousand dollars or one per cent of the principal amount of the loan.

(E) No registrant or licensee shall obtain a certificate of registration or license through any false or fraudulent representation of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required by state or federal law, or make any substantial misrepresentation in the registration or license application, to engage in lending secured by real estate.

(F) No registrant or licensee, in connection with the business of making or offering to make residential mortgage loans, shall knowingly make false or misleading statements of a material fact, omissions of statements required by state or federal law, or false promises regarding a material fact, through advertising or other means, or engage in a continued course of misrepresentations.

(G) No registrant, licensee, or person making loans without a certificate of registration in violation of division (A) of section 1321.52 of the Revised Code, shall knowingly engage in conduct, in connection with the business of making or offering to make residential mortgage loans, that constitutes improper, fraudulent, or dishonest dealings.

(H) No registrant, licensee, or applicant involved in the business of making or offering to make residential mortgage loans shall fail to notify the division of financial institutions within thirty days after knowing any of the following:

(1) That the registrant, licensee, or applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony offense in a domestic, foreign, or military court;

(2) That the registrant, licensee, or applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to any criminal offense involving theft, receiving stolen property, embezzlement, forgery, fraud, passing bad checks, money laundering, breach of trust, dishonesty, or drug trafficking, or any criminal offense involving money or securities, in a domestic, foreign, or military court;

(3) That the registrant, licensee, or applicant has had a mortgage lender registration or mortgage loan originator license, or comparable authority, revoked in any governmental jurisdiction.

(I) No registrant or licensee shall knowingly make, propose, or solicit fraudulent, false, or misleading statements on any mortgage document or on any document related to a mortgage loan, including a mortgage application, real estate appraisal, or real estate settlement or closing document. For purposes of this division, "fraudulent, false, or misleading statements" does not include mathematical errors, inadvertent transposition of numbers, typographical errors, or any other bona fide error.

(J) No registrant or licensee shall knowingly instruct, solicit, propose, or otherwise cause a borrower to sign in blank a loan-related document in connection with a residential mortgage loan.

(K) No registrant or licensee shall knowingly compensate, instruct, induce, coerce, or intimidate, or attempt to compensate, instruct, induce, coerce, or intimidate, a person licensed or certified as an appraiser under Chapter 4763. of the Revised Code for the purpose of corrupting or improperly influencing the independent judgment of the person with respect to the value of the dwelling offered as security for repayment of a mortgage loan.

(L) No registrant or licensee shall willfully retain original documents provided to the registrant or licensee by the borrower in connection with the residential mortgage loan application, including income tax returns, account statements, or other financial-related documents.

(M) No registrant or licensee shall, in connection with making residential mortgage loans, receive, directly or indirectly, a premium on the fees charged for services performed by a bona fide third party.

(N) No registrant or licensee shall, in connection with making residential mortgage loans, pay or receive, directly or indirectly, a referral fee or kickback of any kind to or from a bona fide third party or other party with a related interest in the transaction, including a home improvement builder, real estate developer, or real estate broker or agent, for the referral of business. Nothing in this division shall prevent remuneration to a registrant or licensee for the licensed sale of any insurance product that is permitted under section 1321.57 of the Revised Code, provided there is no additional fee or premium added to the cost for the insurance and paid directly or indirectly by the borrower.

(O) No registrant, licensee, or person making loans without a certificate of registration in violation of division (A) of section 1321.52 of the Revised Code shall, in connection with making or offering to make residential mortgage loans, engage in any unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable act or practice prohibited under sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code.

(P) No registrant shall charge a person a loan origination charge or a credit investigation fee, as otherwise authorized under section 1321.57 of the Revised Code, more than once per any ninety-day period on any one or more loans with a principal amount of one thousand dollars or less that is made pursuant to a license issued under sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 of the Revised Code or a registration issued under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code.

(Q) With respect to a loan made under sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code, a registrant may not do any of the following:

(1) Charge or receive a fee for cashing a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan;

(2) Require or direct a borrower to cash a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan at the place of business of the registrant, an affiliate of the registrant, or any third party;

(3) Seek or obtain directly or indirectly compensation from any affiliate or third party that provides check-cashing services to cash a proceeds check or money order disbursed to fund the loan by the registrant.

(R) No registrant shall require a borrower to obtain membership in an organization or pay a membership fee.

Sec. 1321.99.  (A) Whoever violates section 1321.02 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

(B) Whoever violates section 1321.13 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(C) Whoever violates section 1321.14 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than two hundred dollars for a first offense; for a second offense such person shall be fined not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned for not more than six months.

(D) Whoever willfully violates section 1321.15, 1321.57, 1321.58, division (A), (B), (C), or (D), (P), (Q), or (R) of section 1321.59, 1321.591, or 1321.60 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than one five hundred nor more than five hundred one thousand dollars.

(E) Whoever violates section 1321.52 or division (I), (J), (K), (L), or (M) of section 1321.59 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

(F) Whoever violates division (A) of section 1321.73 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

(G) Whoever violates section 1321.41 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(H) Whoever violates division (N) of section 1321.59 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree.

(I) The imposition of fines pursuant to this section does not preclude the imposition of any administrative fines or civil penalties authorized under section 1321.54 or any other section of the Revised Code.

Sec. 4712.021.  (A) As often as the superintendent of financial institutions considers it necessary, the superintendent may examine the credit services organization's records, including all records created or processed by the organization, pertaining to business transacted pursuant to sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 or sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code.

(B) A credit services organization shall maintain records pertaining to business transacted pursuant to sections 1321.01 to 1321.19 or sections 1321.51 to 1321.60 of the Revised Code for four years. For purposes of this division, "credit services organization" includes any person whose certificate of registration is cancelled, surrendered, or revoked or who otherwise ceases to engage in business.

No credit services organization shall fail to comply with this division.

Sec. 4712.07.  No credit services organization, salesperson, agent, or representative of a credit services organization, or independent contractor that sells or attempts to sell the services of a credit services organization shall do any of the following:

(A) Charge or receive directly or indirectly from a buyer money or other consideration readily convertible into money until all services the organization has agreed to perform for the buyer are completed within the time periods described in division (A)(3) of section 4712.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) Charge or receive directly or indirectly from a buyer money or other consideration readily convertible into money for the referral of the buyer to a person that makes an extension of credit or to a consumer reporting agency, except when credit has actually been extended as a result of that referral;

(C) Make or use a false or misleading representation in the offer or sale of the services of the organization, including either of the following:

(1) Guarantying or otherwise stating that the organization is able to delete an adverse credit history, unless the representation clearly discloses that this can be done only if the credit history is inaccurate or obsolete;

(2) Guarantying or otherwise stating that the organization is able to obtain an extension of credit regardless of the buyer's previous credit problems or credit history, unless the representation clearly discloses the eligibility requirements for obtaining an extension of credit.

(D) Engage, directly or indirectly, in an unconscionable, unfair, or deceptive act or practice, as those terms are used and defined in Chapter 1345. of the Revised Code, in connection with the offer or sale of the services of a credit services organization;

(E)(1) Make or advise a buyer to make a false or misleading statement concerning the buyer's creditworthiness, identification, credit standing, or credit capacity to any of the following:

(a) A consumer reporting agency;

(b) A person that has made an extension of credit to the buyer;

(c) A person to which the buyer is applying for an extension of credit.

(2) Division (E)(1) of this section applies to any statement that the organization, salesperson, agent, representative, or independent contractor knows or should know to be false or misleading through the exercise of reasonable care.

(F) Advertise or cause to be advertised, in any manner, the services of a credit services organization without being registered with the division of financial institutions;

(G) Fail to maintain a statutory agent as required under division (E) of section 4712.02 of the Revised Code;

(H) Transfer or assign a certificate of registration issued by the division pursuant to section 4712.02 of the Revised Code;

(I) Submit the buyer's disputes to a consumer reporting agency without the buyer's knowledge as evidenced by positive identification, including the buyer's correct current residence address, and written authorization personally signed by the buyer;

(J) Fail to maintain, for a period of time as determined by the superintendent of financial institutions, all of the following:

(1) A log of all contracts;

(2) Copies of each contract;

(3) Documentation that substantiates the validity of the representation made pursuant to division (A)(5) of section 4712.05 of the Revised Code;

(4) Any other record specified by the superintendent.

(K) Contact a consumer reporting agency, by telephone or otherwise, for the purpose of submitting or obtaining information relative to any buyer, and state or imply that he or she is the buyer or the buyer's attorney, guardian, or other legal representative;

(L) Engage, directly or indirectly, in any fraudulent or deceptive act, practice, or course of business in connection with the offer or sale of the services of a credit services organization, including knowingly acting in or abetting a scheme to create an evasion of restrictions on fees or charges as set forth in Chapter 1321. of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 1315.26, 1321.13, 1321.15, 1321.57, 1321.59, 1321.99, and 4712.07 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.