(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, §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, §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, §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 §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 §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 §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.
Cont'd...