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HB0045 • 2020

Special purpose depository institutions-amendments.

AN ACT relating to banking; expanding the authority of special purpose depository institutions to engage in incidental activities with the public as specified; amending the application timeframe for a special purpose depository charter; authorizing the commissioner to provide a fee exemption; specifying the types of security that can be pledged by a special purpose depository institution in lieu of a surety bond; clarifying a continuous appropriation; repealing a provision requiring depositor services and the issuance of special purpose depository accounts; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Budget Land Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Minerals
Last action
2020-03-10
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
3/10/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The summary provided in the candidate explanation is generally accurate but includes some details that were removed or narrowed based on the official source material.

Changes to Special Purpose Depository Institutions

The bill changes rules about special banks called SPDIs, allowing them more activities and changing how they apply for a charter.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows SPDIs to engage in incidental banking-related tasks with the public if approved by the commissioner.
  • Changes when SPDIs can file their application for a charter.
  • Gives the commissioner power to waive fees for SPDIs.
  • Lets SPDIs use different types of security instead of surety bonds.
  • Clarifies that funds are continuously appropriated to supervise SPDIs.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Special Purpose Depository Institutions (SPDIs)
  • People applying to be SPDIs
  • The Wyoming Department of Audit

Terms To Know

Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI)
A type of bank that can serve a limited set of depositors and focus on digital assets.
Incidental activities
Activities related to banking but not the main business of lending money.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how SPDIs will be supervised in detail.
  • It is unclear what specific types of security can replace surety bonds for SPDIs.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0045HS001

Standing Committee • House Minerals, Business and Economic Development

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the application process for a special purpose depository charter and establishes new rules regarding personnel classifications and salaries within the division of banking.

  • Adds provisions requiring the state banking board to establish personnel classifications and salaries for certain positions in the division of banking, ensuring these are commensurate with other financial regulators.
  • Modifies the application process timeline by setting a thirty-day period for initial notification from the commissioner regarding any deficiencies or acceptance of an application.
  • Specifies that supervisory fees must be paid twice annually to cover operating costs and administration expenses related to special purpose depository institutions.
  • The amendment text does not provide specific details on how personnel classifications and salaries will be determined, leaving some ambiguity in implementation.
HB0045SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Perkins

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment removes specific lines and paragraphs from the bill text related to special purpose depository institutions.

  • Removes language after 'exemption;' on page 1, line 6.
  • Deletes lines 7 and 8 entirely from page 1.
  • Eliminates the phrase '13-1-605(b) by creating a new' on page 2, line 3.
  • Removes paragraph (viii), as well as lines 9 through 20 entirely from page 2.
  • The exact content and implications of the deleted text are not provided in the amendment details.

Bill History

  1. 2020-03-10 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 27

  2. 2020-03-10 Governor

    Governor Signed HEA No. 0027

  3. 2020-03-06 Senate

    S President Signed HEA No. 0027

  4. 2020-03-06 House

    H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0027

  5. 2020-03-05 LSO

    Assigned Number HEA No. 0027

  6. 2020-03-05 House

    H Concur:Passed 59-1-0-0-0

  7. 2020-03-04 House

    H Received for Concurrence

  8. 2020-03-04 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 28-2-0-0-0

  9. 2020-03-03 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  10. 2020-03-02 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  11. 2020-02-28 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  12. 2020-02-28 Senate

    S09 - Minerals:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  13. 2020-02-24 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S09 - Minerals

  14. 2020-02-18 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  15. 2020-02-17 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 52-6-2-0-0

  16. 2020-02-14 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  17. 2020-02-13 House

    H COW:Passed

  18. 2020-02-12 House

    H Placed on General File

  19. 2020-02-12 House

    H09 - Minerals:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  20. 2020-02-10 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H09 - Minerals 59-0-1-0-0

  21. 2020-02-07 House

    H Received for Introduction

  22. 2020-01-13 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0201
Bill No.:

HB0045

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

20LSO-0201

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0027

Chapter No.:

27

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Special purpose depository institutions-amendments.

Subject:

Special purpose depository institutions.

Summary/Major Elements:

In 2019, the Legislature authorized the creation of a new type of bank - a Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI). The creation of SPDIs was proposed by the Wyoming Blockchain Taskforce to serve a limited set of depositors and to focus on digital assets. SPDIs are prohibited from lending money and do not have to be FDIC insured.
The bill expands the authority of SPDIs by allowing them to engage in all activities that are "incidental" to the business of banking, subject to the approval of the banking commissioner.
The bill expands the types of depositors that can use the services of a SPDI by exempting from depositor qualification criteria all depositors who are engaged in incidental banking activity with an SPDI.
The bill clarifies that funds in the special purpose depository institutions subaccount within the financial
institutions
administration account are continuously appropriated to the Department of Audit and must be spent to supervise SPDIs.
The bill amends procedural timelines for obtaining an SPDI charter.
The bill amends the types of security that can be pledged by a SPDI in lieu of a surety bond.
The bill removes a requirement that SPDI services and accounts be offered to any entity qualifying for an account.
The bill allows the banking commissioner to grant waivers of the supervisory fees otherwise due from SPDIs.

Comments:

The amendments adopted by this bill are retroactively applicable to SPDI charter applications filed on or after October 1, 2019.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
20LSO-0201

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0045

ENROLLED ACT NO. 27,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2020 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to banking; expanding the authority of special purpose depository institutions to engage in incidental activities with the public as specified; amending the application timeframe for a special purpose depository charter; authorizing the commissioner to provide a fee exemption; specifying the types of security that can be pledged by a special purpose depository institution in lieu of a surety bond; clarifying a continuous appropriation; repealing a provision requiring depositor services and the issuance of special purpose depository accounts; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
103(b)(vii) and (f), 13
‑
12
‑
104(a)(intro), (c) and by creating a new subsection (d), 13
‑
12
‑
111(d), 13
‑
12
‑
112(a), 13
‑
12
‑
118(b), (c) and (f) through (h) and 13
‑
12
‑
119(d) are amended to read:

13
‑
12
‑
103.

Special purpose depository institutions created as corporations; operating authority; powers; prohibition on lending.

(b)

Each special purpose depository institution may:

(vii)

Engage in any other activity that is usual or incidental to the business of banking, subject to the prior written approval of the commissioner. The commissioner shall not approve a request to engage in an incidental activity if he finds that the requested activity will adversely affect the solvency or the safety and soundness of the special purpose depository institution or
conflict with any provision of this chapter
.
;

As used in this paragraph, "incidental activity" includes:

(A)

Custody, safekeeping and asset servicing, including custodial services under W.S. 34
‑
29
‑
104;

(B)

Investment adviser, investment company and broker
‑
dealer activities;

(C)

Commodities intermediary activities;

(D)

Exercising fiduciary powers similar to those permitted to national banks;

(E)

Receiving deposits relating to activities under this paragraph;

(F)

Other incidental activities authorized by the commissioner.

(f)

Subject to the laws of the host state,
A
special purpose depository institution may open a branch in another state in the manner set forth in W.S. 13
‑
2
‑
803. A special purpose depository institution, including any branch of the institution, may only accept deposits or provide other services under this chapter to depositors engaged in
a bona fide business
activities
which
is
are
lawful under the laws of Wyoming
, the laws of the host state
and federal law.

13
‑
12
‑
104.

Requirements relating to depositors; nature of business
.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided by subsection (d) of this section, n
o depositor shall maintain an account with a
special purpose depository institution or otherwise receive any services from the institution unless the depositor meets the criteria of this subsection. A depositor shall:

(c)

Consistent with paragraphs (a)(iv) and (v) of this section and in addition to any requirements specified by federal law, a special purpose depository institution shall require that a potential depositor provide reasonable evidence that the person is engaged in a lawful, bona fide business, or is likely to open a lawful, bona fide business within the next six (6) months. As used in this subsection, "reasonable evidence" includes business entity filings, articles of incorporation or organization, bylaws, operating agreements, business plans, promotional materials, financing agreements or other evidence.
This subsection shall not apply to activities conducted under subsection (d) of this section.

(d)

A special purpose depository institution may conduct incidental activities under W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
103(b)(vii) with persons who do not meet the criteria of paragraphs (a)(i) through (iv) of this section. The lawful business requirements of W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
103(f) shall remain applicable.

13
‑
12
‑
111.

Application for charter; fee; subaccount created
.

(d)

The special purpose depository institutions subaccount within the financial institutions administration account is created. Funds in the subaccount
shall be used
are continuously appropriated to the department of audit and shall only be expended
by the commissioner to supervise special purpose depository institutions and to otherwise carry out the duties specified by this chapter. Funds in the subaccount
are continuously appropriated to the
subaccount and
shall not lapse at the end of any fiscal period. For purposes of accounting and investing only, the special purpose depository institutions subaccount shall be treated as a separate account from the financial institutions administration account.

13
‑
12
‑
112.

Procedure upon filing application.

(a)

Upon receiving an application for a special purpose depository charter, the commissioner shall notify the applicants in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of any deficiency in the required information or that the application has been accepted for filing. When the commissioner is satisfied that all required information has been furnished, he shall notify the chairman of the board who shall establish a time and place for a public hearing which shall be conducted not less than sixty (60) days, nor more than
one hundred twenty (120)
one hundred fifty (150)
days, after notice from the commissioner to the applicants that the application is in order.

13
‑
12
‑
118.

Surety bond; pledged investments; investment income; bond or pledge increases; hearings
.

(b)

In lieu of a bond, a special purpose depository institution may irrevocably pledge specified
capital
assets
equivalent to a bond under subsection (a) of this section.
Any capital pledged to the commissioner under this subsection shall be held in a state or nationally chartered bank or savings and loan association having a principal or branch office in this state.
All costs associated with pledging and holding
such capital
the assets
are the responsibility of the special purpose depository institution.
Pledged assets shall be unencumbered and shall not serve as collateral for any other purpose.

(c)

Capital
Assets
pledged to the commissioner shall be of the same nature and quality as those required for state financial institutions under W.S. 9
‑
4
‑
805.

(f)

In the event of a liquidation or conservatorship of a special purpose depository institution pursuant to W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
122, the commissioner may, without regard to priorities, preferences or adverse claims, reduce the surety bond or
capital
assets
pledged under this section to cash as soon as practicable and utilize the cash to defray the costs associated with the liquidation or conservatorship.

(g)

Income from
capital
assets
pledged under subsection (b) of this section shall be paid to the special purpose depository institution, unless a liquidation or conservatorship takes place.

(h)

Upon evidence that the current surety bond or pledged
capital is
assets are
insufficient, the commissioner may require a special purpose depository institution to increase its surety bond or pledged
capital
assets
by providing not less than thirty (30) days written notice to the institution. The special purpose depository institution may request a hearing before the board not more than thirty (30) days after receiving written notice from the commissioner under this subsection. Any hearing before the board shall be held pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act.

13
‑
12
‑
119.

Reports and examinations; supervisory fees; required private insurance or bond.

(d)

Unless the commissioner determines an exemption is appropriate because of payment of other fees, o
n or before January 31 and July 31 of each year, a special purpose depository institution shall compute and pay supervisory fees to the commissioner based on the total assets of the special purpose depository institution as of the preceding December 31 and June 30 respectively. Supervisory fees under this section shall provide for the operating costs of the office of the commissioner and the administration of the laws governing special purpose depository institutions. Such fees shall be established by rule of the commissioner and shall be adjusted by the commissioner to assure consistency with the cost of supervision. Supervisory fees shall be deposited by the commissioner with the state treasurer and credited to the special purpose depository institutions subaccount created by W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
111(d).

Section 2.

W.S. 13
‑
12
‑
104(b) is repealed.

Section 3.

The amendments made by this act shall apply to special purpose depository institutions who file a charter application on or after October 1, 2019.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1