Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

 

As Passed By The Senate

March 29, 2023

S. 483

Introduced by Senators Alexander, Peeler, Grooms, Williams, Massey, K. Johnson, Shealy, Turner, Gambrell, Climer, Talley, Kimbrell, Young, Goldfinch, Reichenbach, Verdin, Davis, Rice, M. Johnson, Hutto, Loftis, Corbin, Senn, Adams, Fanning, Martin, McElveen, Setzler, Gustafson, Campsen, Bennett, Garrett and Cromer

 

S. Printed 03/29/23--S.                                                                          [SEC 3/31/2023 2:42 PM]

Read the first time February 02, 2023

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 37-1-102, RELATING TO THE PURPOSES OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION CODE, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE PROMOTION OF EDUCATION FOR CONSUMERs, BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESSES, AND TO MEDIATE COMPLAINTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 37-6-106, RELATING TO INVESTIGATORY POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE PRESENTATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE BEFORE BEGINNING AN INVESTIGATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 37-6-108, RELATING TO EnFORCEMENT ORDERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR, SO AS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN INFORMATION BE PROVIDED BEFORE A CEASE AND DESIST ORDER IS ISSUED TO A BUSINESS; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 37-2-307, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SALES CONTRACT CLOSING FEES, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE CLOSING FEE TO BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED WITH THE ADVERTISED PRICE.

    Amend Title To Conform

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Section 37-2-307 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 37-2-307.  (A) As used in this section:

       (1) Every motor vehicle dealer charging closing fees on a motor vehicle sales contract shall pay a one-time registration fee of ten dollars during each state fiscal year before January thirty-first to the Department of Consumer Affairs. The department shall set the fee annually in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars.

       (2) The closing fee must be included in the advertised price of the motor vehicle, disclosed on the sales contract, and displayed in a conspicuous location in the motor vehicle dealership.

    (B) A closing fee is defined as a fee charged for recovery of a motor vehicle dealer's actual costs for all administrative and financial work needed to transfer and deliver the motor vehicle to the consumer, person, or entity including, but not limited to, compliance with all state, federal, and lender requirements, preparation and retrieval of documents, protection of the private personal information of the consumer, records retention, and storage costs.

       (2) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.

       (3) "Dealer" means a "motor vehicle dealer" as defined in Section 56-15-10.

    (B)(1) Every dealer charging closing fees in a motor vehicle sale or lease transaction shall pay a filing fee of ten dollars to the department each time the dealer provides notice of a new closing fee amount to the department. The department shall set the filing fee annually in an amount not to exceed twenty-five dollars.

       (2) The closing fee must be disclosed on the motor vehicle sale or lease contract, displayed in a conspicuous location in the motor vehicle dealership, and clearly and conspicuously disclosed in any advertisement of a specific motor vehicle for sale or lease.

    (C)(1) Prior to charging a closing fee, a motor vehicle dealer shall provide written notice to the department of Consumer Affairs of the maximum amount of a the closing fee the dealer intends to charge on an annual basis.

       (2) If the maximum amount of the proposed closing fee the dealer intends to charge is not more than two hundred twenty-five dollars for each vehicle, the closing fee is considered to be approved by the department, and the dealer does meet and fulfill all reasonable requirements and criteria in compliance with this section. If the proposed closing fee exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars, the department may review the amount of the closing fee for reasonableness using the criteria in item (3) (5). if the maximum amount of the closing fee intended to be charged by a dealer in a vehicle transaction exceeds two hundred twenty-five dollars per vehicle. The department shall not conduct a review of the amount of the closing fee for reasonableness when the maximum amount the dealer intends to charge in a vehicle transaction is not more than two hundred twenty-five dollars per vehicle.

       (3) If the department intends to conduct a formal review of a proposed closing fee, the department shall provide written notice to the motor vehicle dealer of the department's intention to review the proposed closing fee within thirty fifteen days of receiving the complete proposed closing fee notice. If the department determines that a proposed closing fee is not reasonable, the department shall issue a written order detailing the department's findings within thirty days of receiving the complete proposed closing fee notice. If the department does not provide a motor vehicle the dealer with written notice of the department's intention to review approval of the proposed closing fee within thirty days of receiving the proposed closing fee notice, the motor vehicle dealer is authorized to charge the proposed closing fee. If the department determines that a proposed closing fee is not reasonable, the department shall issue a written order detailing the department's findings. The department may require the fee to be reduced or require the motor vehicle dealer to submit a new fee for review.

       (4) The dealer is at all times authorized to submit a new closing fee that is equal to or less than two hundred twenty-five dollars per vehicle which is not subject to review. If the department finds that a proposed closing fee is not reasonable, the dealer may request a hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act. During the pendency of the department's review period, a motor vehicle dealer or the pendency of any action before the Administrative Law Court, the dealer is authorized to charge a closing fee at an amount not to exceed the amount most recently on file and permitted to be charged by the department. If the department finds that a closing fee is not reasonable, the motor vehicle dealer may request a hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.

       (2) If the maximum amount of the closing fee that the dealer intends to charge is not more than two hundred twenty-five dollars per vehicle, the closing fee is deemed approved by the department and the dealer does meet and fulfill all reasonableness requirements and criteria in compliance with the law and this section.

       (3) In determining the reasonableness of a closing fee, the department shall allow the following items to be included in a reasonable closing fee:

           (a) all administrative

       (5)(a) In determining the reasonableness of a closing fee, the department shall accept and allow all of the dealer's actual costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, employee compensation, information processing, facilities costs, staff, supplies, and materials, and financial work needed to transfer the motor vehicle to the consumer and to procure the associated with the following closing and delivery activities:

           (i) closing of the motor vehicle sale or lease transaction, including any associated loan or lease and transferring title of the motor vehicle to the consumer;

           (b) all costs for administrative expenses, costs, staff, supplies, and materials necessary by the dealer to comply with all state, federal, and lender requirements;

           (c) all costs for administrative costs, staff, and materials needed for the preparation and retrieval of documents;

           (d) all costs for administrative costs, staff, supplies, and materials necessary for the protection of the private personal information of the consumer;  and

           (e) all costs for administrative costs, staff, supplies, and materials necessary for records retention and storage costs of such records.

           (ii) delivering the motor vehicle to the consumer;

           (iii) complying with all state, federal, and lender requirements;

           (iv) preparing, storing, and retrieving transaction documents; and

           (v) protecting the private personal information of the consumer.

       (b) Dealer costs must be calculated using generally accepted cost accounting principles for the preceding twelve-month period.

       (c) In determining the reasonableness of a closing fee, the department may compare a particular dealer's costs only with other similarly situated dealers.

    (D) Whether the vehicle transaction is a credit sale, consumer lease, or cash transaction:

       (1) notwithstanding another any other provision of law, a motor vehicle dealer who complies with this section and any regulation promulgated under it and who charges a closing fee is not engaging in any action which is arbitrary, in bad faith, unconscionable, an unfair or deceptive practice, or an unfair method of competition for purposes of Sections 56-15-30, and 56-15-40, and 39-5-20 with regard to the charging of a closing fee and may lawfully charge a closing fee;

       (2) a motor vehicle dealer may assert any defenses provided to a creditor pursuant to the provisions of this title;  and

       (3) a purchaser injured or damaged by an action of a motor vehicle dealer in violation of this section or any regulation promulgated thereunder, may assert the remedies available pursuant to the provisions of this title.

    (E)(1) The Department departmentof Consumer Affairs shall administer and enforce the subject of motor vehicle dealer closing fees including, but notas limited to, by this section. The department shall may make and promulgate such rules and regulations relating to motor vehicle dealer closing fees to administer and enforce this section. The department shall have access to a motor vehicle dealer's books, accounts, and records, but only to the extent necessary to determine if the dealer is complying dealer's compliance with the disclosure provisions of this section subsection (B)(2) and the accuracy of the dealer's cost and expense information in subsection (C)(5), and this financial information must be kept confidential and privileged from disclosure, except as otherwise provided by law.

       (2) If the department determines that a closing fee is not reasonable, the department shall issue a written order detailing the department's findings. The department may require the fee to be reduced or require the motor vehicle dealer to submit a new fee for review. If the department finds that a closing fee is not reasonable, the motor vehicle dealer may request a hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.In administering and enforcing this section, or for any other review or investigation of dealers, the department shall:

           (a) promote education for consumers and best practices for dealers; and

           (b) mediate complaints between a consumer and a dealer, whenever possible.

       (3) The department may review or investigate a dealer upon receipt of a complaint or other credible evidence that the dealer has violated a provision of this section or a provision of this title related to closing fees. In administering and enforcing this section:

           (a) The department must provide a written notice by certified mail to the dealer regarding the complaint or other credible evidence. If the department's records show an email address for the dealer, the department must also send an email to the dealer. This written notice must contain sufficient information for the dealer to identify documents related to the alleged violation, request only such information as is reasonably related to the alleged violation, and state that the dealer may provide a written response to the allegation.

           (b) The dealer must respond to the department's notice within forty-five days from the date the written notice described in item 3(a) was received via certified mail. If a dealer fails to provide the requested information within sixty days from the date of receipt of the written notice via certified mail, the department may commence a proceeding pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

           (c) The department must issue a decision within fifteen days of receipt of the requested information from the dealer. If the department determines the dealer failed to comply with the requirements of this section or of this title regarding closing fees, the department's decision must determine if the violation was either (1) not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error, or (2) an intentional violation.

               (i) In the event of a violation that was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error, the dealer must refund any excess charge paid by the consumer. The department must close the investigation upon notice that the consumer received the refund.

               (ii) In the event of an intentional violation, the department may request only those records reasonably related to the alleged violation for the ten transactions immediately preceding and the ten transactions immediately after the transaction identified in the complaint or other credible evidence received by the department. If the department discovers a potential violation of any kind related to closing fees in any of these transactions, the department may request only those records reasonably related to the alleged violation for transactions occurring on the date of the transaction identified in the complaint or other credible evidence, and transactions thirty days immediately preceding and thirty days immediately after the transaction identified in the complaint or other credible evidence received by the department.

       (4) A dealer may not be held liable in any action for a violation of this section or a violation of this title regarding closing fees if the dealer: (a) shows by a preponderance of evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid the error; and (b) the dealer refunded any excess charge paid by the consumer.

       (5) A dealer who is found to have intentionally violated this section, or any other provision in this title regarding closing fees, must refund any excess charge paid by the customer within thirty days from the date of written notice from the department regarding its determination of a violation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following remedies also apply for an intentional violation:

           (a) for the first violation in a twelve-month period, the department must send a written warning to the dealer;

           (b) for a second violation in a twelve-month period, the department may charge a five hundred dollar administrative penalty;

           (c) for a third violation in a twelve-month period, the department may charge not more than a one thousand dollar administrative penalty; and

           (d) for a fourth or subsequent violation in a twelve-month period, the department may charge not more than a five thousand dollar administrative penalty, provided that cumulative administrative penalties shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in the twelve-month period. 

    (F)(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to authorize a motor vehicle dealer to charge a closing fee in compliance with this section and to protect a motor vehicle dealer from civil liability for charging a closing fee if the fee is charged in compliance with this title and any Department of Consumer Affairs regulation or administrative interpretation. It is further the intent to protect consumers by the disclosure and notice provisions established in this section and with the remedies provided by this title.

       (2) Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the department from administering and enforcing other laws under the department's jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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