Section 55.113 - Criminal Conviction Guidelines(a) Purpose. This section establishes the criteria used by SML to review an individual's criminal history to determine his or her eligibility and fitness to be licensed by SML as an originator. This section implements the requirements of Occupations Code §53.025, requiring SML to establish guidelines related to such reviews, including designating particular crimes and offenses SML considers to be directly related to the duties and responsibilities of acting as an originator and may constitute grounds for denial of licensure. The Commissioner's authority to deny an application for licensure based on an individual's criminal history under the Occupations Code is in addition to and augments that arising from the Finance Code. This section also describes the Commissioner's other statutory authority arising from the Finance Code for denial of licensure based on an individual's criminal history, including outlining certain offenses deemed by this section to be grounds for denial under the Finance Code. (b) Ineligibility by Operation of Law. The following individuals are ineligible for licensure by operation of law due to his or her criminal history: (1) an individual who, within the 7 years preceding the date of the application, has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to, a felony in a court of this state, another state or territory of the United States, a federal court of the United States, or other foreign, or military court, in accordance with Finance Code §180.055(a); and(2) an individual who, at any time, has been convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony offense involving an act of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering, in accordance with Finance Code §180.055(a). Any felony offense listed in the schedule contained in subsection (e) of this section having a nexus to residential mortgage loan origination arising from the categories of criminal offenses related to residential mortgage loan origination under subsection (d)(1) or (2) of this section (concerning crimes involving fraud, falsification, dishonesty, deception and breach of trust, and theft or embezzlement, respectively) is deemed to constitute a crime involving an act of fraud, dishonesty, breach of trust, or money laundering for purposes of Finance Code §180.055(a).(c) Duties and Responsibilities of a Residential Mortgage Loan Originator. An originator acts as an intermediary between the consumer seeking a residential mortgage loan and the lender or underwriter that determines whether the consumer qualifies for the loan. The originator may assist the consumer in reviewing his or her income, expenses, and credit worthiness to determine whether he or she will qualify for a loan, and on what terms he or she might qualify. The originator may assist the consumer in completing the loan application, and sometimes directs the consumer to present his or her financial information in the manner to which the lender or underwriter is accustomed. A residential mortgage loan often takes place in the context of a real estate transaction, and as a result, an originator sometimes advises the consumer of his or her financial ability to purchase residential real estate, including providing a conditional pre-qualification letter to establish the consumer's purchasing power while shopping in the marketplace. Once the loan has entered the underwriting process, the originator may assist the consumer in resolving any outstanding conditions of the underwriter to qualify for the loan and obtain approval, including addressing items of concern on a consumer's credit report, immigration/residency status, available cash-on-hand for the transaction, and income which may not be readily established by documentary evidence such as that of an independent contractor. The originator communicates to the consumer the ever-changing loan terms as interest rates in the marketplace fluctuate and is often a key figure in advising the consumer of when and how he or she may "lock" the loan in advance of closing to solidify the loan terms. The originator may serve as communications liaison between the consumer and various parties to the transaction, including the lender, the underwriting department or a third-party underwriter, real estate brokers and sales agents, appraisers, surveyors, insurance providers, closing/settlement agents, and the representatives of various taxing authorities. In performing his or her duties, an originator has access to sensitive information of the consumer, including his or her social security number, date of birth, immigration/residency status, and all the personal financial details of the consumer, including employment, income, assets, and expenses.(d) Categories of Offenses Related to Residential Mortgage Loan Origination. The Finance Commission of Texas and the Commissioner have determined the following categories of criminal offenses are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of acting as an originator: (1) criminal offenses involving fraud, falsification, dishonesty, deception, and breach of trust;(2) criminal offenses involving theft or embezzlement; and(3) criminal offenses involving intoxication by drugs or alcohol.(e) Schedule of Criminal Offenses Determined to be Directly Related. The Finance Commission of Texas and the Commissioner have determined the criminal offenses in the following schedule meet one or more of the categories deemed to relate to residential mortgage loan origination by subsection (d) of this section and are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of an individual licensed by SML to act as an originator. The schedule includes those criminal offenses most likely to be encountered by SML and is made from the perspective of the criminal laws of the State of Texas and the United States federal government. However, the schedule is not an exhaustive review of all offenses and does not limit SML from considering a criminal offense not specifically listed in the schedule. The schedule should be construed to include any criminal offense meeting one or more of the categories deemed to relate to residential mortgage loan origination, as provided by subsection (d) of this section. The schedule should further be construed to include the substantially similar or functionally equivalent crime of any state or territory of the United States, violations of the Texas Code of Military Justice (Government Code Chapter 432), violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (10 U.S.C. § 801 et seq.), or crimes of a foreign country or governmental subdivision thereof. In determining whether a criminal offense of another jurisdiction is substantially similar or functionally equivalent, an inquiry will be made comparing the subject offense with an offense on the schedule to determine whether the subject offense has similar elements, including intent and classification of punishment, and whether the crime would have been punishable had the acts been committed in Texas. Attached Graphic
(f) Factors. Unless the individual is ineligible for licensure by operation of law as provided by subsection (b) of this section, in determining whether a criminal offense is directly related to the duties and responsibilities of an individual licensed by SML to act as an originator, the Commissioner will consider: (1) the nature and seriousness of the crime;(2) the relationship of the crime to the purposes for requiring a license to act as an originator; (3) the extent to which an originator license might offer an opportunity for the individual to engage in further criminal activity of the same type as that in which the individual has previously been involved;(4) the relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, or fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of a licensed originator; and(5) any correlation between the elements of the crime and the duties and responsibilities of licensed originator.(g) In addition to the factors in subsection (f) of this section, the Commissioner, in determining whether an individual who has been convicted of a crime (as determined by Finance Code §157.0131 and subsection (h) of this section) is unfit and ineligible for licensure, will consider: (1) the extent and nature of the individual's past criminal activity;(2) the age of the individual when the crime was committed;(3) the amount of time that has elapsed since the individual's criminal activity;(4) the amount of time that has elapsed since the individual's release from incarceration;(5) the conduct and work activity of the individual before and after the criminal activity;(6) evidence of the individual's rehabilitation or rehabilitative efforts;(7) letters of recommendation, signed and dated, by a current employer, if the individual is employed, or a previous employer, stating that the employer has specific and complete knowledge of the individual's criminal history and the reasons the employer is recommending that the individual be considered fit to be licensed by SML; and(8) any other letters of recommendation, signed and dated, by an individual familiar with the applicant and his or her character and fitness, with specific and complete knowledge of the individual's criminal history, able to offer competent information about the nature and extent of the applicant's rehabilitative efforts.(h) Convictions Considered. The determination of whether a criminal proceeding is considered to have resulted in a conviction for purposes of this section will be made in accordance with Finance Code §157.0131, which states that an individual is considered to have been convicted of a criminal offense if: (1) a sentence is imposed on the individual;(2) the individual received probation or community supervision, including deferred adjudication or community service; or (3) the court deferred final disposition of the individual's case.(i) Consideration of Disciplinary Actions. Unless the individual is ineligible for licensure by operation of law as provided by subsection (b) of this section, in addition to the individual's criminal history, SML may consider the individual's past history of disciplinary actions with SML, or another regulatory body or official of another jurisdiction regulating residential mortgage loan origination or other financial services, which may serve as separate grounds for license ineligibility, or as an aggravating factor rendering the individual ineligible for licensure.(j) Consideration of Financial Responsibility, Character and General Fitness. Unless the individual is ineligible for licensure by operation of law as provided by subsection (b) of this section, in addition to the individual's criminal history, the Commissioner may consider the individual's financial responsibility, and other evidence of character and general fitness, which may serve as separate grounds for license ineligibility, or as an aggravating factor rendering the individual ineligible for licensure. A conviction for a criminal offense having a nexus to residential mortgage loan origination arising from the categories of criminal offenses deemed to relate to residential mortgage loan origination under subsection (d) of this section is indicative of a failure to demonstrate requisite character and general fitness to command the confidence of the community in accordance with Finance Code §180.055(a)(3), and honesty, trustworthiness and integrity in accordance with Finance Code §157.012(c)(1).7 Tex. Admin. Code § 55.113
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 46, November 15, 2024, TexReg 9204, eff. 11/23/2024