Section 85.202 - Filing of New Application(a) An application for issuance of a new pawnshop license must be submitted in a format prescribed by the OCCC at the date of filing and in accordance with the OCCC's instructions. The OCCC may accept the use of prescribed alternative formats in order to accept approved electronic submissions. Appropriate fees must be filed with the application, and the application must include the following: (1) Required application information. All questions must be answered. (A) Application for license. (i) Location. A physical street address must be listed for the proposed location for which the applicant can show proof of ownership or an executed lease agreement. A post office box or a mail box location at a private mail-receiving service may not be used except for a physical location that does not receive general mail delivery. An application for a new license is not permitted if the address or the full legal property description has not yet been determined or the application is for an inactive license.(ii) Compliance officer. The application must list a compliance officer. The compliance officer must be an individual responsible for overseeing compliance, and must be authorized to receive and respond to communications from the OCCC.(iii) Signature. Electronic signatures will be accepted in a manner approved by the commissioner. Each applicant must have the application signed by an authorized individual.(B) Owners and principal parties. (i) Proprietorships. The applicant must disclose the name of any individual holding an ownership interest in the business and the name of any individual responsible for operating the business. If requested, the applicant must also disclose the names of the spouses of these individuals.(ii) General partnerships. Each partner must be listed and the percentage of ownership stated. If a general partner is wholly or partially owned by a legal entity and not a natural person, a narrative or diagram must be included that lists the names and titles of all meeting the definition of "managerial official," as contained in Texas Business Organizations Code, § RSA 1.002, and a description of the ownership of each legal entity must be provided. General partnerships that register as limited liability partnerships should provide the same information as that required for general partnerships. (iii) Limited partnerships. Each partner, general and limited, must be listed and the percentage of ownership stated. (I) General partners. The applicant should provide the complete ownership, regardless of percentage owned, for all general partners. If a general partner is wholly or partially owned by a legal entity and not a natural person, a narrative or diagram must be included that lists the names and titles of all meeting the definition of "managerial official," as contained in Texas Business Organizations Code, § RSA 1.002, and a description of the ownership of each legal entity must be provided. (II) Limited partners. The applicant should provide a complete list of all limited partners owning 5% or more of the partnership. (III) Limited partnerships that register as limited liability partnerships. The applicant should provide the same information as that required for limited partnerships. (iv) Corporations. Each officer and director must be named. Each shareholder holding 5% or more of the voting stock must be named if the corporation is privately held. If a parent corporation is the sole or part owner of the proposed business, a narrative or diagram must be included that describes each level of ownership of 5% or greater. (v) Limited liability companies. Each "manager," "officer," and "member" owning 5% or more of the company, as those terms are defined in Texas Business Organizations Code, § RSA 1.002, and each agent owning 5% or more of the company must be listed. If a member is a legal entity and not a natural person, a narrative or diagram must be included that describes each level of ownership of 5% or greater. (vi) Trusts or estates. Each trustee or executor, as appropriate, must be listed. (vii) All entity types. If a parent entity is a different type of legal business entity than the applicant, the parent entity's owners and principal parties should be disclosed according to the parent's entity type. (C) Disclosure questions. All questions must be answered. Questions requiring a "yes" answer must be accompanied by an explanatory statement and any appropriate documentation requested.(D) Registered agent. The registered agent must be provided by each applicant. The registered agent is the person or entity to whom any legal notice may be delivered. The agent must be a Texas resident and list an address for legal service. If the registered agent is a natural person, the address must be a different address than the licensed location address. If the applicant is a corporation or a limited liability company, the registered agent should be the registered agent on file with the Texas Secretary of State. If the registered agent is not the same as the registered agent filed with the Texas Secretary of State, then the applicant must submit certification from the secretary of the company identifying the registered agent.(E) Personal affidavit. Each individual meeting the definition of "principal party" as defined in § RSA 85.102 of this title (relating to Definitions) must provide a personal affidavit. All requested information must be provided.(F) Personal questionnaire. Each individual meeting the definition of "principal party" as defined in § RSA 85.102 of this title must provide a personal questionnaire. Each question must be answered. If any question, except question 1, is answered "yes," an explanation must be provided.(G) Employment history. Each individual meeting the definition of "principal party" as defined in § RSA 85.102 of this title must provide an employment history. Each principal party should provide a continuous 10-year history, accounting for time spent as a student, unemployed, or retired. The employment history must also include the individual's association with the entity applying for the license.(H) Statement of experience. Each applicant for a new license should provide a statement setting forth the details of the applicant's prior experience in the pawn or credit-granting business. If the applicant or its principal parties do not have significant experience in the pawnshop business as planned for the prospective licensee, the applicant must provide a written statement explaining the applicant's relevant background, why the commissioner should find that the applicant has the requisite experience, and how the applicant plans to obtain the necessary knowledge to operate lawfully and fairly.(I) Financial statement and supporting financial information. (i) All entity types. The financial statement must be dated no earlier than 60 days prior to the date of application submission. Applicants may also submit audited financial statements dated within one year prior to the application date in lieu of completing the supporting financial information. All financial statements must be certified as true, correct, and complete. If requested, a bank confirmation to confirm account balance information with financial institutions must be submitted. All financial statements must reflect the net assets as defined in the Texas Pawnshop Act, §371.003 of at least the lesser of the following amounts: (I) As required in the Texas Pawnshop Act, §371.072(a), $150,000; or(II) The amount required by the Texas Pawnshop Act, §371.072(b) as the license existed or should have existed under the law and rules in effect on August 31, 1999. A change in net asset requirement occurs with respect to any change of ownership or other event causing a change in the net asset requirement that may have occurred prior to September 1, 1999. The change in the net asset requirement is effective as of the date of change of ownership or other event causing the change of the net asset requirement.(ii) Sole proprietorships. Sole proprietors must complete all sections of the financial statement and supporting financial information, or provide a personal financial statement that contains all of the same information requested by the financial statement and supporting financial information. The financial statement and supporting financial information must be as of the same date.(iii) Partnerships. A balance sheet for the partnership itself as well as each general partner must be submitted. In addition, the information requested in the supporting financial information must be submitted for the partnership itself and each general partner. All of the balance sheets and supporting financial information documents for the partnership and all general partners must be as of the same date.(iv) Corporations and limited liability companies. Corporations and limited liability companies must file a balance sheet that complies with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The information requested in the supporting financial information must be submitted. The balance sheet and supporting financial information must be as of the same date. Financial statements are generally not required of related parties, but may be required by the commissioner if the commissioner believes they are relevant. The financial information for the corporation or limited liability company applicant should contain no personal financial information.(v) Trusts and estates. Trusts and estates must file a balance sheet that complies with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The information requested in the supporting financial information must be submitted. The balance sheet and supporting financial information must be as of the same date. Financial statements are generally not required of related parties, but may be required by the commissioner if the commissioner believes they are relevant. The financial information for the trust or estate applicant should contain no personal financial information.(J) Assumed name certificates. For an applicant that does business under an "assumed name" as that term is defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code, § RSA 71.002, an assumed name certificate must be filed as provided in this subparagraph. (i) Unincorporated applicants. Unincorporated applicants using or planning to use an assumed name must file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk of the county where the proposed business is located in compliance with Texas Business and Commerce Code, § RSA 71.002. An applicant must provide a copy of the assumed name certificate that shows the filing stamp of the county clerk or, alternatively, a certified copy. (ii) Incorporated or limited partnership applicants. Incorporated or limited partnership applicants using or planning to use an assumed name must file an assumed name certificate in compliance with Texas Business and Commerce Code, § RSA 71.002. Evidence of the filing bearing the filing stamp of the Texas Secretary of State must be submitted or, alternatively, a certified copy. (2) Other required filings. (A) Fingerprints. (i) For all persons meeting the definition of "principal party" as defined in § RSA 85.102 of this title, a complete set of legible fingerprints must be provided. All fingerprints should be submitted in a format prescribed by the OCCC and approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.(ii) For limited partnerships, if the owners and principal parties under paragraph (1)(B)(iii)(I) of this subsection does not produce a natural person, the applicant must provide a complete set of legible fingerprints for individuals who are associated with the general partner as principal parties.(iii) For entities with complex ownership structures that result in the identification of individuals to be fingerprinted who do not have a substantial relationship to the proposed applicant, the applicant may submit a request to fingerprint three officers or similar employees with significant involvement in the proposed business. The request should describe the relationship and significant involvement of the individuals in the proposed business. The agency may approve the request, seek alternative appropriate individuals, or deny the request.(iv) For individuals who have previously been licensed by the OCCC and principal parties of entities currently licensed, fingerprints are generally not required if the fingerprints are on record with the OCCC, are less than 10 years old, and have been processed by both the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Upon request, individuals and principal parties previously licensed by the OCCC may be required to submit a new set of fingerprints.(v) For individuals who have previously submitted fingerprints to another state agency (e.g., Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending), fingerprints are still required to be submitted under Texas Finance Code, § RSA 14.152. Fingerprints cannot be disclosed to others, except as authorized by Texas Government Code, § RSA 560.002.(B) Entity documents. (i) Partnerships. A partnership applicant must submit a complete and executed copy of the partnership agreement. This copy must be signed and dated by all partners. If the applicant is a limited partnership or a limited liability partnership, provide evidence of filing with the Texas Secretary of State and a certificate of good standing from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.(ii) Corporations. A corporate applicant, domestic or foreign, must provide the following documents: (I) a complete copy of the articles of incorporation and any amendments;(II) a certification from the secretary of the corporation identifying the current officers and directors as listed in the owners and principal parties section of the application; (III) a certificate of good standing from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; (IV) if the registered agent is not the same as the one filed with the Texas Secretary of State, a certification from the secretary of the corporation identifying the registered agent; (V) if requested, a copy of the relevant portions of the bylaws addressing the required number of directors and the required officer positions for the corporation; and (VI) if requested, a copy of the minutes of corporate meetings that record the election of all current officers and directors as listed in the owners and principal parties section of the application.(iii) Publicly held corporations. In addition to the items required for corporations, a publicly held corporation must file the most recent 10K or 10Q for the applicant or for the parent company.(iv) Limited liability companies. A limited liability company applicant, domestic or foreign, must provide the following documents: (I) a complete copy of the articles of organization;(II) a certification from the secretary of the company identifying the current officers and directors as listed in the owners and principal parties section of the application; (III) a certificate of good standing from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; (IV) if the registered agent is not the same as the one filed with the Texas Secretary of State, a certification from the secretary of the corporation identifying the registered agent; (V) if requested, a copy of the relevant portions of the operating agreement or regulations addressing responsibility for operations; and (VI) if requested, a copy of the minutes of company meetings that record the election of all current officers and directors a listed in the owners and principal parties section of the application.(v) Trusts. A copy of the relevant portions of the instrument that created the trust addressing management of the trust and operations of the applicant must be filed with the application. (vi) Estates. A copy of the instrument establishing the estate must be filed with the application. (vii) Foreign entities. In addition to the items required by this section, a foreign entity must provide: (I) a certificate of authority to do business in Texas, if applicable; and (II) a statement of where records of Texas pawn transactions will be kept. If these records will be maintained at a location outside of Texas, the applicant must acknowledge responsibility for the travel costs associated with examinations in addition to the usual assessment fee or agree to make all the records available for examination in Texas. (viii) Formation document alternative. As an alternative to the entity-specific formation document applicable to the applicant's entity type (e.g., for a corporation, articles of incorporation), an applicant may submit a "certificate of formation" as defined in Texas Business Organizations Code, § RSA 1.002, if the certificate of formation provides the entity formation information required by this section for that entity type. (C) Map. Each applicant must provide a map that shows the following: (i) the area where the proposed license will be situated; (ii) the site of the proposed pawnshop; (iii) the location, including the name and address, of each pawnshop within three miles of the site of the proposed pawnshop location; and (iv) the scale at which the map was constructed. (D) Survey. The commissioner may require a survey to determine the distance from the proposed pawnshop location to existing operating pawnshops. (E) Zoning. Each applicant must file a certificate of occupancy or other evidence that the operation of a pawnshop is permitted at the proposed site. (F) Lease agreement or proof of ownership. Each applicant must file an executed lease agreement, deed, or other evidence that the entity has control of the proposed site. (G) Proof of general liability and fire insurance. Each applicant must file proof of insurance as required by § RSA 85.403 of this title (relating to Insurance). The policy must explicitly cover loss of pledged goods. (H) Bond. The commissioner may require a bond under Texas Pawnshop Act, §371.056, when the commissioner finds that this would serve the public interest. When a bond is required, the commissioner will give written notice to the applicant. Should a bond not be submitted within 40 calendar days of the date of the commissioner's notice, any pending application may be denied. (I) Pawnshop employee license program. At the time of the application, the applicant may provide a written notification to participate in the pawnshop employee license program.(b) Subsequent applications. If the applicant is currently licensed and filing an application for a new location, the applicant must provide the information that is unique to the new location including the application for license, disclosure questions, owners and principal parties, a new financial statement, a map of the area where the proposed license will be situated as provided in subsection (a)(2)(C) of this section, a certificate of occupancy or other evidence that the operation of a pawnshop is permitted at the proposed site, a lease agreement or proof of ownership, and proof of general liability and fire insurance as provided in subsection (a)(2)(G) of this section. Other information required by this section need not be filed if the information on file with the OCCC is current and valid.(c) Distances will be measured in a direct line despite travel patterns and natural or manmade obstacles and will be measured from front door to front door. The commissioner may require a survey to determine distances from the proposed pawnshop location to existing operating pawnshops. In examining the distance requirements of a proposed pawnshop, the existence or location of an inactive license will not be considered in the determination of the distance requirements. An application for a new license may not be approved unless the eligibility requirements are met and the proposed facility is within: (1) a county with a population of less than 250,000 according to the most recent decennial census regardless of distance from another operating pawnshop; (2) a county with a population of 250,000 or more according to the most recent decennial census and the pawnshop is not less than two miles from another operating pawnshop.7 Tex. Admin. Code § 85.202
The provisions of this §85.202 adopted to be effective June 7, 2010, 35 TexReg 3471; amended to be effective July 1, 2014, 39 TexReg 3397; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 45, November 4, 2016, TexReg 8818, eff. 1/1/2017; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 52, December 28, 2018, TexReg 8587, eff. 2/1/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 44, Number 35, August 30, 2019, TexReg 4721, eff. 10/1/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 35, September 2, 2022, TexReg 5334, eff. 10/1/2022