(205 ILCS 510/0.05)
Sec. 0.05.
Administration of Act.
(a) This Act shall be administered by the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate who shall have all of the following powers and duties in administering this Act:
(1) To promulgate reasonable rules for the purpose
| of administering the provisions of this Act. | |
(2) To issue orders for the purpose of administering |
| the provisions of this Act and any rule promulgated in accordance with this Act. | |
(3) To appoint hearing officers and to hire |
| employees or to contract with appropriate persons to execute any of the powers granted to the Commissioner under this Section for the purpose of administering this Act and any rule promulgated in accordance with this Act. | |
(4) To subpoena witnesses, to compel their |
| attendance, to administer an oath, to examine any person under oath, and to require the production of any relevant books, papers, accounts, and documents in the course of and pursuant to any investigation being conducted, or any action being taken, by the Commissioner in respect of any matter relating to the duties imposed upon, or the powers vested in, the Commissioner under the provisions of this Act or any rule promulgated in accordance with this Act. | |
(5) To conduct hearings.
(6) To impose civil penalties graduated up to $1,000 |
| against any person for each violation of any provision of this Act, any rule promulgated in accordance with this Act, or any order of the Commissioner based upon the seriousness of the violation. | |
(6.5) To initiate, through the Attorney General, |
| injunction proceedings whenever it appears to the Commissioner that any person, whether licensed under this Act or not, is engaged or about to engage in an act or practice that constitutes or will constitute a violation of this Act or any rule prescribed under the authority of this Act. The Commissioner may, in his or her discretion, through the Attorney General, apply for an injunction, and upon a proper showing, any circuit court may enter a permanent or preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order without bond to enforce this Act in addition to the penalties and other remedies provided for in this Act. | |
(7) To issue a cease and desist order and, for |
| violations of this Act, any order issued by the Commissioner pursuant to this Act, any rule promulgated in accordance with this Act, or any other applicable law in connection with the operation of a pawnshop, to suspend a license issued under this Act for up to 30 days. | |
(8) To determine compliance with applicable law and |
| rules related to the operation of pawnshops and to verify the accuracy of reports filed with the Commissioner, the Commissioner, not more than one time every 2 years, may, but is not required to, conduct a routine examination of a pawnshop, and in addition, the Commissioner may examine the affairs of any pawnshop at any time if the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that unlawful or fraudulent activity is occurring, or has occurred, therein. | |
(9) In response to a complaint, to address any |
| inquiries to any pawnshop in relation to its affairs, and it shall be the duty of the pawnshop to promptly reply in writing to such inquiries. The Commissioner may also require reports or information from any pawnshop at any time the Commissioner may deem desirable. | |
(10) To revoke a license issued under this Act if |
| the Commissioner determines that (a) a licensee has been convicted of a felony in connection with the operations of a pawnshop; (b) a licensee knowingly, recklessly, or continuously violated this Act, a rule promulgated in accordance with this Act, or any order of the Commissioner; (c) a fact or condition exists that, if it had existed or had been known at the time of the original application, would have justified license refusal; or (d) the licensee knowingly submits materially false or misleading documents with the intent to deceive the Commissioner or any other party. | |
(11) Following license revocation, to take |
| possession and control of a pawnshop for the purpose of examination, reorganization, or liquidation through receivership and to appoint a receiver, which may be the Commissioner, a pawnshop, or another suitable person. | |
(b) After consultation with local law enforcement officers, the Attorney General, and the industry, the Commissioner may by rule require that pawnbrokers operate video camera surveillance systems to record photographic representations of customers and retain the tapes produced for up to 30 days.
(c) Pursuant to rule, the Commissioner shall issue licenses on an annual or multi‑year basis for operating a pawnshop. Any person currently operating or who has operated a pawnshop in this State during the 2 years preceding the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997 shall be issued a license upon payment of the fee required under this Act. New applicants shall meet standards for a license as established by the Commissioner. Except with the prior written consent of the Commissioner, no individual, either a new applicant or a person currently operating a pawnshop, may be issued a license to operate a pawnshop if the individual has been convicted of a felony or of any criminal offense relating to dishonesty or breach of trust in connection with the operations of a pawnshop. The Commissioner shall establish license fees. The fees shall not exceed the amount reasonably required for administration of this Act. It shall be unlawful to operate a pawnshop without a license issued by the Commissioner.
(d) In addition to license fees, the Commissioner may, by rule, establish fees in connection with a review, approval, or provision of a service, and levy a reasonable charge to recover the cost of the review, approval, or service (such as a change in control, change in location, or renewal of a license). The Commissioner may also levy a reasonable charge to recover the cost of an examination if the Commissioner determines that unlawful or fraudulent activity has occurred. The Commissioner may require payment of the fees and charges provided in this Act by certified check, money order, an electronic transfer of funds, or an automatic debit of an account.
(e) The Pawnbroker Regulation Fund is established as a special fund in the State treasury. Moneys collected under this Act shall be deposited into the Fund and used for the administration of this Act. In the event that General Revenue Funds are appropriated to the Office of the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate for the initial implementation of this Act, the Governor may direct the repayment from the Pawnbroker Regulation Fund to the General Revenue Fund of such advance in an amount not to exceed $30,000. The Governor may direct this interfund transfer at such time as he deems appropriate by giving appropriate written notice. Moneys in the Pawnbroker Regulation Fund may be transferred to the Professions Indirect Cost Fund, as authorized under Section 2105‑300 of the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
(f) The Commissioner may, by rule, require all pawnshops to provide for the expenses that would arise from the administration of the receivership of a pawnshop under this Act through the assessment of fees, the requirement to pledge surety bonds, or such other methods as determined by the Commissioner.
(g) All final administrative decisions of the Commissioner under this Act shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law. For matters involving administrative review, venue shall be in either Sangamon County or Cook County.
(Source: P.A. 94‑91, eff. 7‑1‑05.) |
(205 ILCS 510/2) (from Ch. 17, par. 4652)
Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any pawnbroker to charge or collect a greater benefit or percentage upon money advanced, and for the use and forbearance thereof, than the rate of 3% per month. Nothing in this Section shall be construed so as to conflict with the law pertaining to usury and the person receiving money so advanced may hold such moneys to pay any fees in addition to interest as herein provided.
Each pawnbroker, when making a loan under this Section, must disclose in printed form on the pawn contract the following information to the persons receiving the loan:
(1) the amount of money advanced, which must be |
| designated as the amount financed; | |
(2) the maturity date of the pawn, which must be at |
| least 30 days after the date of the pawn; | |
(3) the total pawn interest and service charge |
| payable on the maturity date, which must be designated as the finance charge; | |
(4) the total of payments that must be paid to |
| redeem the pledged goods on the maturity date, which must be designated as the total of payments; and | |
(5) the annual percentage rate, computed according |
| to the regulations adopted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System under the Federal Truth in Lending Act. | |
Each pawnbroker may contract for and receive a monthly finance charge including interest and fees not to exceed one‑fifth of the loan amount, as set forth herein, for appraising, investigating title, storing and insuring the collateral, closing the loan, making daily reports to local law enforcement officers including enhanced computerized reporting, complying with regulatory requirements, and for other expenses and losses of every nature whatsoever and for all other services. Such fees, when made and collected, shall not be deemed interest for any purpose of law.
(Source: P.A. 90‑477, eff. 7‑1‑98.) |