AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 20, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

98

Introduced by Assembly Member Chen

February 17, 2026

An act to amend Section 23016 of the Financial Code, relating to financial institutions.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

The California Deferred Deposit Transaction Law generally provides for the licensure and regulation by the Commissioner of Financial Protection and Innovation of a person who engages in the business of making deferred deposit transactions. The law requires each licensee to pay to the commissioner its pro rata share of all costs and expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of the law, as specified.

This bill would require an invoice or assessment notice issued by the commissioner to a licensee pursuant to the provisions described above to include the pro rata amount calculation used to determine the amount due and payable by the licensee, as specified.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 23016 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

23016.

(a) (1) Each licensee shall pay to the commissioner its pro rata share of all costs and expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of this division, as estimated by the commissioner, for the ensuing year and any deficit actually incurred or anticipated in the administration of the program in the year in which the assessment is made.

(2) The pro rata share shall be the proportion that a licensee’s total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions made bears to the aggregate total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions made by all licensees as shown by the annual reports to the commissioner pursuant to Section 23026.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a licensee shall neither be assessed for nor be permitted to pay less than five hundred dollars ($500) per licensed location per year.

(b) On or before the 20th day of May in each year, the commissioner shall notify each licensee by mail of the amount assessed and levied against it and that amount shall be paid within 30 days thereafter. If payment is not made within 30 days, the commissioner may assess and collect a penalty, in addition to the assessment, of 1 percent of the assessment for each month or part of a month that the payment is delayed or withheld.

(c) If a licensee fails to pay the assessment on or before the 30th day of June following the day upon which payment is due, the commissioner may by order summarily suspend or revoke the certificate issued to the licensee. If, after an order is made, a request for hearing is filed in writing within 30 days, and a hearing is not held within 60 days thereafter, the order is deemed rescinded as of its effective date. During any period when its certificate is revoked or suspended, a licensee shall not conduct business pursuant to this division except as may be permitted by order of the commissioner. However, the revocation, suspension, or surrender of a certificate shall not affect the powers of the commissioner as provided in this division.

(d) An invoice or assessment notice issued by the commissioner to a licensee pursuant to this section shall include the pro rata amount calculation used to determine the amount due and payable by the licensee with each component listed as a separate line item, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

(1) The total costs and expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of this division, as estimated by the commissioner, for the ensuing year.

(2) Any deficit actually incurred or anticipated in the administration of the program in the year in which the assessment is made.

(3) The aggregate total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions made by all licensees.

(4) The licensee’s total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions.

(5) The number of license locations operated by the licensee.

SEC. 1.5.

Section 23016 of the Financial Code is amended to read:

23016.

(a) (1) Each licensee shall pay to the commissioner its pro rata share of all costs and expenses reasonably incurred in the administration of this division, as estimated by the commissioner, for the ensuing year and any deficit actually incurred or anticipated in the administration of the program in the year in which the assessment is made.

(2) The pro rata share shall be the proportion that a licensee’s total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions made bears to the aggregate total dollar amount of deferred deposit transactions made by all licensees as shown by the annual reports to the commissioner pursuant to Section 23026.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a licensee shall neither be assessed for nor be permitted to pay less than five hundred dollars ($500) per licensed location per year.

(b) On or before the 20th day of May in each year, the commissioner shall notify each licensee by mail of the amount assessed and levied against it and that amount shall be paid within 30 days thereafter. If payment is not made within 30 days, the commissioner may assess and collect a penalty, in addition to the assessment, of 1 percent of the assessment for each month or part of a month that the payment is delayed or withheld.

(c) If a licensee fails to pay the assessment on or before the 30th day of June following the day upon which payment is due, the commissioner may by order summarily suspend or revoke the certificate issued to the licensee. If, after an order is made, a request for hearing is filed in writing within 30 days, and a hearing is not held within 60 days thereafter, the order is deemed rescinded as of its effective date. During any period when its certificate is revoked or suspended, a licensee shall not conduct business pursuant to this division except as may be permitted by order of the commissioner. However, the revocation, suspension, or surrender of a certificate shall not affect the powers of the commissioner as provided in this division.

SEC. 2.