2008 Minnesota Statutes

332A.02 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context, for the purposes of this chapter the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2. Accreditation.

"Accreditation" means certification as an accredited credit counseling provider by the Council on Accreditation, the Bureau Veritas Certification North America, Inc., or BSI Management Systems America, Inc.

Subd. 3.Attorney general.

"Attorney general" means the attorney general of the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 4.Commissioner.

"Commissioner" means commissioner of commerce.

Subd. 5.Controlling or affiliated party.

"Controlling or affiliated party" means any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with another person.

Subd. 6.Debt management services agreement.

"Debt management services agreement" means the written contract between the debt management services provider and the debtor.

Subd. 7.Debt management services plan.

"Debt management services plan" means the debtor's individualized package of debt management services set forth in the debt management services agreement.

Subd. 8.Debt management services provider.

"Debt management services provider" means any person offering or providing debt management services to a debtor domiciled in this state, regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for the services and regardless of whether the person maintains a physical presence in the state. This term does not include services performed by the following when engaged in the regular course of their respective businesses and professions:

(1) attorneys at law, escrow agents, accountants, broker-dealers in securities;

(2) state or national banks, trust companies, savings associations, title insurance companies, insurance companies, and all other lending institutions duly authorized to transact business in Minnesota, provided no fee is charged for the service;

(3) persons who, as employees on a regular salary or wage of an employer not engaged in the business of debt management, perform credit services for their employer;

(4) public officers acting in their official capacities and persons acting as a debt management services provider pursuant to court order;

(5) any person while performing services incidental to the dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of a partnership, corporation, or other business enterprise;

(6) the state, its political subdivisions, public agencies, and their employees;

(7) credit unions and collection agencies, provided no fee is charged for the service;

(8) "qualified organizations" designated as representative payees for purposes of the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income Representative Payee System and the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Public Law 101-508;

(9) accelerated mortgage payment providers. "Accelerated mortgage payment providers" are persons who, after satisfying the requirements of sections 332.30 to 332.303, receive funds to make mortgage payments to a lender or lenders, on behalf of mortgagors, in order to exceed regularly scheduled minimum payment obligations under the terms of the indebtedness. The term does not include: (i) persons or entities described in clauses (1) to (8); (ii) mortgage lenders or servicers, industrial loan and thrift companies, or regulated lenders under chapter 56; or (iii) persons authorized to make loans under section 47.20, subdivision 1. For purposes of this clause and sections 332.30 to 332.303, "lender" means the original lender or that lender's assignee, whichever is the current mortgage holder;

(10) trustees, guardians, and conservators; and

(11) debt settlement providers.

Subd. 9.Debt management services.

"Debt management services" means the provision of any one or more of the following services in connection with debt incurred primarily for personal, family, or household services:

(1) managing the financial affairs of an individual by distributing income or money to the individual's creditors;

(2) receiving funds for the purpose of distributing the funds among creditors in payment or partial payment of obligations of a debtor; or

(3) adjusting, prorating, pooling, or liquidating the indebtedness of a debtor. Any person so engaged or holding out as so engaged is deemed to be engaged in the provision of debt management services regardless of whether or not a fee is charged for such services.

Subd. 10.Debtor.

"Debtor" means the person for whom the debt prorating service is performed.

Subd. 11.Person.

"Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, or corporation.

Subd. 12.Registrant.

"Registrant" means any person registered by the commissioner pursuant to this chapter and, where used in conjunction with an act or omission required or prohibited by this chapter, shall mean any person performing debt management services.

Subd. 13.Debt settlement provider.

"Debt settlement provider" means any person engaging in or holding out as engaging in the business of negotiating, adjusting, or settling debt incurred primarily for personal, family, or household purposes without holding or receiving the debtor's funds or personal property and without paying the debtor's funds to, or distributing the debtor's property among, creditors. The term shall not include persons listed in subdivision 8, clauses (1) to (10).

History:

2007 c 57 art 3 s 45; 2008 c 210 s 1