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First Substitute H.B. 153

Representative Jim Bird proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
SECURITIES AMENDMENTS

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Jim Bird

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Kevin T. Van Tassell

             6      Cosponsors:
             7      DeMar Bud Bowman
             8      Jack R. Draxler
             9      Kevin S. GarnNeal B. Hendrickson
Christopher N. Herrod
Eric K. Hutchings
Steven R. MascaroPaul Ray
Stephen E. Sandstrom
Aaron Tilton              10     
             11      LONG TITLE
             12      General Description:
             13          This bill modifies provisions related to certain securities related disciplinary
             14      proceedings.
             15      Highlighted Provisions:
             16          This bill:
             17          .    provides a process for nondepartmental hearing officers outside the Department of
             18      Commerce to conduct certain securities related proceedings;
             19          .    increases the cap on the Securities Investor Education and Training Fund; and
             20          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             21      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:


             27          61-1-6, as last amended by Chapter 36, Laws of Utah 2003
             28          61-1-12, as last amended by Chapter 133, Laws of Utah 1990
             29          61-1-14, as last amended by Chapter 160, Laws of Utah 1997
             30          61-1-15.5, as enacted by Chapter 160, Laws of Utah 1997
             31          61-1-18.3, as enacted by Chapter 284, Laws of Utah 1983
             32          61-1-18.5, as last amended by Chapter 176, Laws of Utah 2002
             33          61-1-18.6, as enacted by Chapter 161, Laws of Utah 1987
             34          61-1-18.7, as last amended by Chapter 256, Laws of Utah 2002
             35          61-1-19, as last amended by Chapter 133, Laws of Utah 1990
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 61-1-6 is amended to read:
             39           61-1-6. Denial, suspension, revocation, cancellation, or withdrawal of license --
             40      Sanctions.
             41          (1) Subject to the requirements of [Subsections (2) and (3)] this section, the director,
             42      by means of adjudicative proceedings conducted in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             43      Administrative Procedures Act, may issue an order:
             44          (a) denying, suspending, or revoking [any] a license;
             45          (b) barring or censuring [any] a licensee or any officer, director, partner, or person
             46      occupying a similar status or performing similar functions for a licensee from employment with
             47      a licensed broker-dealer or investment adviser;
             48          (c) restricting or limiting a licensee as to any function or activity of the business for
             49      which a license is required in this state;
             50          (d) imposing a fine; or
             51          (e) taking any combination of actions under Subsections (1)(a) through (d).
             52          (2) (a) The director may [impose the sanctions] take an action described in Subsection
             53      (1) if the director finds that:
             54          (i) it is in the public interest; and [finds, with respect to the]
             55          (ii) one of the following engaged in an act described in Subsection (2)(b):
             56          (A) a person who is an applicant [or];
             57          (B) a person who is a licensee [or, in the case of a broker-dealer or investment adviser,


             58      any];
             59          (C) a person who is a partner, officer, or director[, or any] of a broker-dealer or
             60      investment adviser;
             61          (D) a person occupying a similar status or performing similar functions[, or any] to a
             62      partner, officer, or director of a broker-dealer or investment adviser; or
             63          (E) a person directly or indirectly controlling the broker-dealer or investment adviser[,
             64      that the person:].
             65          (b) This Subsection (2) requires the director to find that a person described in
             66      Subsection (2)(a)(ii):
             67          [(a) has filed] (i) files an application for a license that, as of its effective date or as of
             68      any date after filing in the case of an order denying effectiveness, [was]:
             69          (A) is incomplete in any material respect; or [contained]
             70          (B) contains any statement that [was] is, in light of the circumstances under which it
             71      [was] is made, false or misleading with respect to any material fact;
             72          [(b)] (ii) has willfully violated or willfully failed to comply with any provision of this
             73      chapter or a predecessor act or any rule or order under this chapter or a predecessor act;
             74          [(c)] (iii) was convicted, within the past ten years, of:
             75          (A) any misdemeanor involving a security or any aspect of the securities business[,]; or
             76          (B) any felony;
             77          [(d)] (iv) is permanently or temporarily enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction
             78      from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice involving any aspect of the securities
             79      business;
             80          [(e)] (v) is the subject of an order of the director [or any predecessor] denying,
             81      suspending, or revoking a license as:
             82          (A) a broker-dealer[,];
             83          (B) an agent[,];
             84          (C) an investment adviser[,]; or
             85          (D) an investment adviser representative;
             86          [(f)] (vi) is the subject of:
             87          [(i)] (A) an adjudication or determination, within the past five years by a securities or
             88      commodities agency or administrator of another state, Canadian province or territory, or a court


             89      of competent jurisdiction that the person has willfully violated:
             90          (I) the Securities Act of 1933[,];
             91          (II) the Securities Exchange Act of 1934[,];
             92          (III) the Investment Advisers Act of 1940[,];
             93          (IV) the Investment Company Act of 1940[,];
             94          (V) the Commodity Exchange Act[,]; or
             95          (VI) the securities or commodities law of any other state; or
             96          [(ii)] (B) subject to Subsection (2)(c), an order:
             97          (I) entered within the past five years by the securities administrator of any state or
             98      Canadian province or territory or by the Securities and Exchange Commission denying or
             99      revoking license as a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, or investment adviser
             100      representative or the substantial equivalent of those terms [or is the subject of an order];
             101          (II) of the Securities and Exchange Commission suspending or expelling the person
             102      from a national securities exchange or national securities association registered under the
             103      Securities Exchange Act of 1934[,]; or [is the subject of]
             104          (III) that is a United States post office fraud order; [except that]
             105          [(iii) the division may not commence agency action to revoke or suspend any license
             106      under Subsection (2)(f) more than one year from the date of the order relied on, and the director
             107      may not enter an order under Subsection (2)(f) on the basis of an order under another state's
             108      law unless that order was based on facts that would currently constitute a ground for an agency
             109      action under this section;]
             110          [(g)] (vii) has engaged in dishonest or unethical practices in the securities business;
             111          [(h)] (viii) is insolvent, either in the sense that liabilities exceed assets or in the sense
             112      that obligations cannot be met as they mature, except that the director may not enter an order
             113      against a broker-dealer or investment adviser under this Subsection (2)[(h)] (b)(viii) without a
             114      finding of insolvency as to the broker-dealer or investment adviser;
             115          [(i)] (ix) is not qualified on the basis of the lack of training, experience, and knowledge
             116      of the securities business, except as otherwise provided in Subsection (6);
             117          [(j)] (x) has failed reasonably to supervise [his] that person's:
             118          (A) agents or employees if the person is a broker-dealer[,]; or [his]
             119          (B) investment adviser representatives or employees if the person is an investment


             120      adviser; or
             121          [(k) has failed] (xi) fails to pay the proper filing fee within 30 days after being notified
             122      by the division of a deficiency.
             123          (c) (i) The division may not commence agency action to revoke or suspend a license
             124      under Subsection (2)(b)(vi) more than one year from the day on which the order on which the
             125      division relies is entered.
             126          (ii) An order may not be entered under Subsection (2)(b)(vi) on the basis of an order
             127      under another state's law unless that order is issued on the basis of facts that would constitute a
             128      ground for an agency action under this section on the day on which the notice of agency action
             129      is filed.
             130          (3) (a) [Before the director may issue an] An order issued by the director under
             131      Subsection (1) that does the following is subject to Subsection (3)(b):
             132          (i) revokes any license;
             133          (ii) bars or censures any licensee or any officer, director, partner, or person occupying a
             134      similar status or performing similar functions for a licensee from employment with a licensed
             135      broker-dealer or investment adviser; or
             136          (iii) imposes a fine[,].
             137          (b) Before the director may issue an order described in Subsection (3)(a), the Securities
             138      [Advisory] Board shall:
             139          [(a)] (i) review the order; and
             140          [(b)] (ii) if a majority of the Securities [Advisory] Board approves the order, authorize
             141      the director to issue [it] the order.
             142          (4) The division may enter a denial order under Subsection (2)[(j) or (k)] (b)(x) or (xi),
             143      but shall vacate the order when the deficiency [has been] is corrected.
             144          (5) The division may not institute a suspension or revocation proceeding on the basis
             145      of a fact or transaction known to [it] the division when the license became effective unless the
             146      proceeding is instituted within [the next] 120 days of the day on which the license takes effect.
             147          (6) The following provisions govern the application of Subsection (2)[(i)] (b)(ix):
             148          (a) The director may not enter an order against a broker-dealer on the basis of the lack
             149      of qualification of any person other than:
             150          (i) the broker-dealer [himself] if [he] the broker-dealer is an individual; or


             151          (ii) an agent of the broker-dealer.
             152          (b) The director may not enter an order against an investment adviser on the basis of
             153      the lack of qualification of any person other than:
             154          (i) the investment adviser [himself] if [he] the investment adviser is an individual; or
             155          (ii) an investment adviser representative.
             156          (c) The director may not enter an order solely on the basis of lack of experience if the
             157      applicant or licensee is qualified by training or knowledge.
             158          (d) The director shall consider that:
             159          (i) an agent who will work under the supervision of a licensed broker-dealer need not
             160      have the same qualifications as a broker-dealer; and [that]
             161          (ii) an investment adviser representative who will work under the supervision of a
             162      licensed investment adviser need not have the same qualifications as an investment adviser.
             163          (e) (i) The director shall consider that an investment adviser is not necessarily qualified
             164      solely on the basis of experience as a broker-dealer or agent.
             165          (ii) When the director finds that an applicant for a license as a broker-dealer is not
             166      qualified as an investment adviser, the director may condition the applicant's license as a
             167      broker-dealer upon the applicant's not transacting business in this state as an investment
             168      adviser.
             169          (f) (i) The division may by rule provide for examinations, which may be written or oral
             170      or both, to be taken by any class of or all applicants.
             171          (ii) The division may by rule or order waive the examination requirement as to a person
             172      or class of persons if the division determines that the examination is not necessary for the
             173      protection of investors.
             174          (7) If the director finds that any licensee or applicant for a license is no longer in
             175      existence, has ceased to do business as a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, or
             176      investment adviser representative, or is subject to an adjudication of mental incompetence or to
             177      the control of a committee, conservator, or guardian, or cannot be located after reasonable
             178      search, the division may summarily cancel or deny the license or application according to the
             179      procedures and requirements of Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act.
             180          (8) (a) Withdrawal from license as a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, or
             181      investment adviser representative becomes effective 30 days after receipt of an application to


             182      withdraw or within a shorter period of time as determined by the director, unless:
             183          (i) a revocation or suspension proceeding is pending when the application is filed;
             184          (ii) a proceeding to revoke or suspend or to impose conditions upon the withdrawal is
             185      instituted within 30 days after the application is filed; or
             186          (iii) additional information is requested by the division regarding the withdrawal
             187      application.
             188          (b) (i) If a proceeding described in Subsection (8)(a) is pending or instituted, the
             189      director shall designate by order when and under what conditions the withdrawal becomes
             190      effective.
             191          (ii) If additional information is requested, withdrawal is effective 30 days after the
             192      additional information is filed.
             193          (c) (i) If no proceeding is pending or instituted, and withdrawal automatically becomes
             194      effective, the director may initiate a revocation or suspension proceeding under this section
             195      within one year after withdrawal [became] becomes effective.
             196          (ii) The director shall enter any order under Subsection (2)(b) as of the last date on
             197      which the license was effective.
             198          (9) (a) As used in this section:
             199          (i) "Board" means the Securities Board.
             200          (ii) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
             201          (iii) "Nondepartmental hearing officer" means an individual appointed by the division
             202      in accordance with this Subsection (9).
             203          (iv) "Proceeding" means:
             204          (A) an adjudicative proceeding brought under this section; or
             205          (B) a proceeding conducted under Section 61-1-20 for an action against a licensee.
             206          (b) (i) In a proceeding, a person who is the subject of the proceeding may make a
             207      motion to the board requesting that a nondepartmental hearing officer be appointed to conduct
             208      the proceeding in accordance with this section.
             209          (ii) The person described in Subsection (9)(b)(i) shall make the motion by filing with
             210      the division a written filing that includes:
             211          (A) the name of the person;
             212          (B) the proceeding for which the person is requesting the appointment of a


             213      nondepartmental hearing officer; and
             214          (C) support for the person's belief that there is a reasonable likelihood or potential that
             215      without the appointment of a nondepartmental hearing officer, the proceeding could be biased.
             216          (c) The board shall approve the appointment of a nondepartmental hearing officer if the
             217      board finds that:
             218          (i) the person requesting the appointment of a nondepartmental hearing officer
             219      complies with Subsection (9)(b);
             220          (ii) there is a reasonable basis for the person's belief that without the appointment of a
             221      nondepartmental hearing officer, the proceeding could be biased; and
             222          (iii) the request for the appointment of a nondepartmental hearing officer is not made
             223      in bad faith including the motion not being filed to:
             224          (A) harass;
             225          (B) cause unnecessary delay; or
             226          (C) cause needless increase in the cost of proceeding.
             227          (d) If the board approves the appointment of a nondepartmental hearing officer, the
             228      division shall appoint a nondepartmental hearing officer:
             229          (i) before taking any further action with regard to the proceeding:
             230          (ii) subject to the approval of the appointment by the board in accordance with a
             231      procedure established by the division with the concurrence of the board; and
             232          (iii) who is an individual who:
             233          (A) is not an employee of the department;
             234          (B) does not represent the:
             235          (I) department as an attorney general or assistant attorney general; or
             236          (II) division in accordance with Section 61-1-21.5 ; and
             237          (C) unless agreed to in writing by the person requesting the nondepartmental hearing
             238      officer, has never:
             239          (I) been employed by the department; or
             240          (II) represented the:
             241          (Aa) department as an attorney general or an assistant attorney general; or
             242          (Bb) division in accordance with Section 61-1-21.5 .
             243          (e) A nondepartmental hearing officer appointed under this Subsection (9):


             244          (i) conducts a proceeding on behalf of the director; and
             245          (ii) shall submit to the director a report including:
             246          (A) findings of fact;
             247          (B) conclusions of law; and
             248          (C) a recommended order.
             249          (f) A decision of the board under this Subsection (9) may be appealed under this
             250      chapter and Title 63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act, only as part of an appeal of
             251      an order issued by the director:
             252          (i) under Subsection (1); or
             253          (ii) to impose a sanction under Section 61-1-20 against a licensee.
             254          Section 2. Section 61-1-12 is amended to read:
             255           61-1-12. Denial, suspension, and revocation of registration.
             256          (1) Upon approval by a majority of the Securities [Advisory] Board, the director, by
             257      means of adjudicative proceedings conducted in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46b, [the]
             258      Administrative Procedures Act, may issue a stop order that denies effectiveness to, or suspends
             259      or revokes the effectiveness of, any securities registration statement and may impose a fine if
             260      [he] the director finds that the order is in the public interest and that:
             261          (a) the registration statement, as of its effective date or as of any earlier date in the case
             262      of an order denying effectiveness, or any amendment under Subsection 61-1-11 (10) as of its
             263      effective date, or any report under Subsection 61-1-11 (9), is incomplete in any material respect,
             264      or contains any statement that was, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made,
             265      false or misleading with respect to any material fact;
             266          (b) any provision of this chapter, or any rule, order, or condition lawfully imposed
             267      under this chapter, [has been] is willfully violated, in connection with the offering, by:
             268          (i) the person filing the registration statement;
             269          (ii) the issuer, any partner, officer, or director of the issuer, any person occupying a
             270      similar status or performing similar functions, or any person directly or indirectly controlling or
             271      controlled by the issuer, but only if the person filing the registration statement is directly or
             272      indirectly controlled by or acting for the issuer; or
             273          (iii) any underwriter;
             274          (c) subject to Subsection (5), the security registered or sought to be registered is the


             275      subject of an administrative stop order or similar order, or a permanent or temporary injunction
             276      of any court of competent jurisdiction entered under any other federal or state act applicable to
             277      the offering; [except that the division may not commence agency action against an effective
             278      registration statement under this subsection more than one year from the date of the order or
             279      injunction relied on, and it may not enter an order under this subsection on the basis of an order
             280      or injunction entered under the securities act of any other state unless that order or injunction
             281      was based on facts that would currently constitute a ground for a stop order under this section;]
             282          (d) the issuer's enterprise or method of business includes or would include activities
             283      that are illegal where performed;
             284          (e) the offering [has worked] works or [tended] tends to work a fraud upon purchasers
             285      or would so operate;
             286          (f) the offering [has been] is or would be made with unreasonable amounts of
             287      underwriters' and sellers' discounts, commissions, or other compensation, or promoters' profits
             288      or participation, or unreasonable amounts or kinds of options;
             289          (g) when a security is sought to be registered by notification, it is not eligible for such
             290      registration;
             291          (h) when a security is sought to be registered by coordination, there [has been] is a
             292      failure to comply with the undertaking required by Subsection 61-1-9 (2)(d); or
             293          (i) the applicant or registrant [has failed] fails to pay the proper filing fee.
             294          (2) The director may enter an order under this section, but may vacate the order if [he]
             295      the director finds that the conditions that prompted its entry have changed or that it is otherwise
             296      in the public interest to do so.
             297          (3) The director may not issue a stop order against an effective registration statement
             298      on the basis of a fact or transaction known to the division when the registration statement
             299      became effective unless the proceeding is instituted within [the next] 120 days after the day on
             300      which the registration statement becomes effective.
             301          (4) [No] A person may not be considered to have violated Section 61-1-7 or 61-1-15 by
             302      reason of any order or sale effected after the entry of an order under this section if that person
             303      proves by a preponderance of the evidence that [he] the person did not know, and in the
             304      exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the order.
             305          (5) (a) The division may not commence agency action against an effective registration


             306      statement under Subsection (1)(c) more than one year from the date on which the order or
             307      injunction relied on to commence the agency action is entered.
             308          (b) The division may not enter an order under Subsection (1)(c) on the basis of an order
             309      or injunction entered under the securities act of any other state unless that order or injunction is
             310      issued on the basis of facts that would constitute a ground for a stop order under this section on
             311      the day on which the order is issued under Subsection (1)(c).
             312          Section 3. Section 61-1-14 is amended to read:
             313           61-1-14. Exemptions.
             314          (1) The following securities are exempted from Sections 61-1-7 and 61-1-15 :
             315          (a) any security, including a revenue obligation, issued or guaranteed by the United
             316      States, any state, any political subdivision of a state, or any agency or corporate or other
             317      instrumentality of one or more of the foregoing, or any certificate of deposit for any of the
             318      foregoing;
             319          (b) any security issued or guaranteed by Canada, any Canadian province, any political
             320      subdivision of any Canadian province, any agency or corporate or other instrumentality of one
             321      or more of the foregoing, or any other foreign government with which the United States
             322      currently maintains diplomatic relations, if the security is recognized as a valid obligation by
             323      the issuer or guarantor;
             324          (c) any security issued by and representing an interest in or a debt of, or guaranteed by,
             325      any bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any bank, savings institution, or
             326      trust company supervised under the laws of any state;
             327          (d) any security issued by and representing an interest in or a debt of, or guaranteed by,
             328      any federal savings and loan association, or any building and loan or similar association
             329      organized under the laws of any state and authorized to do business in this state;
             330          (e) any security issued or guaranteed by any federal credit union or any credit union,
             331      industrial loan association, or similar association organized and supervised under the laws of
             332      this state;
             333          (f) any security issued or guaranteed by any public utility or holding company which is
             334      a registered holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or a
             335      subsidiary of such a company within the meaning of that act, or any security regulated in
             336      respect of its rates or in its issuance by a governmental authority of the United States, any state,


             337      Canada, or any Canadian province;
             338          (g) (i) any security listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
             339      Quotation National Market System, the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
             340      Exchange, or on any other stock exchange or medium approved by the division, except that the
             341      director may at any time suspend or revoke this exemption for any particular stock exchange,
             342      medium, security, or securities under Subsection (4);
             343          (ii) any other security of the same issuer which is of senior or substantially equal rank
             344      to any security [so] listed and approved by the director[,]; or
             345          (iii) any security called for by subscription rights or warrants so listed or approved, or
             346      any warrant or right to purchase or subscribe to any of the foregoing;
             347          (h) (i) any security issued by any person organized and operated not for private profit
             348      but exclusively for religious, educational, benevolent, charitable, fraternal, social, athletic, or
             349      reformatory purposes, or as a chamber of commerce or trade or professional association; and
             350          (ii) any security issued by a corporation organized under Title 3, Chapter 1, General
             351      Provisions Relating to Agricultural Cooperative Associations, and any security issued by a
             352      corporation to which the provisions of that chapter are made applicable by compliance with the
             353      requirements of Section 3-1-21 ;
             354          (i) a promissory note, draft, bill of exchange, or banker's acceptance that evidences an
             355      obligation to pay cash within nine months after the date of issuance, exclusive of days of grace,
             356      or a renewal of such an obligation that is likewise limited, or a guarantee of such an obligation
             357      or of a renewal:
             358          (i) issued in denominations of at least $50,000; and
             359          (ii) either:
             360          (A) receives a rating in one of the three highest rating categories from a nationally
             361      recognized statistical rating organization; or
             362          (B) the issuer satisfies requirements established by rule or order of the division;
             363          (j) any investment contract issued in connection with an employees' stock purchase,
             364      option, savings, pension, profit-sharing, or similar benefit plan;
             365          (k) a security issued by an issuer registered as an open-end management investment
             366      company or unit investment trust under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, if:
             367          (i) (A) the issuer is advised by an investment adviser that is a depository institution


             368      exempt from registration under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 or that is currently
             369      registered as an investment adviser, and has been registered, or is affiliated with an adviser that
             370      has been registered, as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 for at
             371      least three years next preceding an offer or sale of a security claimed to be exempt under this
             372      Subsection (1)(k); and
             373          (B) the adviser has acted, or is affiliated with an investment adviser that has acted as
             374      investment adviser to one or more registered investment companies or unit investment trusts
             375      for at least three years next preceding an offer or sale of a security claimed to be exempt under
             376      this Subsection (1)(k); or
             377          (ii) the issuer has a sponsor that has at all times throughout the three years before an
             378      offer or sale of a security claimed to be exempt under this Subsection (1)(k) sponsored one or
             379      more registered investment companies or unit investment trusts the aggregate total assets of
             380      which have exceeded $100,000,000;
             381          (iii) in addition to Subsection (1)(k)(i) or (ii), the division has received prior to any sale
             382      exempted [herein] by this Subsection (1)(k):
             383          (A) a notice of intention to sell which has been executed by the issuer and which sets
             384      forth the name and address of the issuer and the title of the securities to be offered in this state;
             385      and
             386          (B) a filing fee as determined under Section 61-1-18.4 ;
             387          (iv) in the event any offer or sale of a security of an open-end management investment
             388      company is to be made more than 12 months after the date on which the notice and fee under
             389      Subsection (1)(k)(iii) is received by the director, another notice and payment of the applicable
             390      fee shall be required;
             391          (v) for the purpose of this Subsection (1)(k), an investment adviser is affiliated with
             392      another investment adviser if [it] the investment adviser controls, is controlled by, or is under
             393      common control with the other investment adviser; and
             394          (l) any security as to which the director, by rule or order, finds that registration is not
             395      necessary or appropriate for the protection of investors.
             396          (2) The following transactions are exempted from Sections 61-1-7 and 61-1-15 :
             397          (a) any isolated transaction, whether effected through a broker-dealer or not;
             398          (b) any nonissuer transaction in an outstanding security, if as provided by rule of the


             399      division:
             400          (i) information about the issuer of the security as required by the division is currently
             401      listed in a securities manual recognized by the division, and the listing is based upon such
             402      information as required by rule of the division; or
             403          (ii) the security has a fixed maturity or a fixed interest or dividend provision and there
             404      has been no default during the current fiscal year or within the three preceding fiscal years, or
             405      during the existence of the issuer and any predecessors if less than three years, in the payment
             406      of principal, interest, or dividends on the security;
             407          (c) any nonissuer transaction effected by or through a registered broker-dealer pursuant
             408      to an unsolicited order or offer to buy;
             409          (d) any transaction between the issuer or other person on whose behalf the offering is
             410      made and an underwriter, or among underwriters;
             411          (e) any transaction in a bond or other evidence of indebtedness secured by a real or
             412      chattel mortgage or deed of trust, or by an agreement for the sale of real estate or chattels, if the
             413      entire mortgage, deed of trust, or agreement, together with all the bonds or other evidences of
             414      indebtedness secured thereby, is offered and sold as a unit;
             415          (f) any transaction by an executor, administrator, sheriff, marshal, receiver, trustee in
             416      bankruptcy, guardian, or conservator;
             417          (g) any transaction executed by a bona fide pledgee without any purpose of evading
             418      this chapter;
             419          (h) any offer or sale to a bank, savings institution, trust company, insurance company,
             420      investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, pension or
             421      profit-sharing trust, or other financial institution or institutional investor, or to a broker-dealer,
             422      whether the purchaser is acting for itself or in some fiduciary capacity;
             423          (i) any offer or sale of a preorganization certificate or subscription if:
             424          (i) no commission or other remuneration is paid or given directly or indirectly for
             425      soliciting any prospective subscriber;
             426          (ii) the number of subscribers acquiring any legal or beneficial interest therein does not
             427      exceed ten; and
             428          (iii) there is no general advertising or solicitation in connection with the offer or sale;
             429          (j) any transaction pursuant to an offer by an issuer of its securities to its existing


             430      securities holders, if:
             431          (i) no commission or other remuneration, other than a standby commission is paid or
             432      given directly or indirectly for soliciting any security holders in this state and the transaction
             433      constitutes [either]:
             434          (A) the conversion of convertible securities;
             435          (B) the exercise of nontransferable rights or warrants;
             436          (C) the exercise of transferable rights or warrants if the rights or warrants are
             437      exercisable not more than 90 days after their issuance; or
             438          (D) the purchase of securities under a preemptive right; and
             439          (ii) the exemption created by Subsection (2)(j) is not available for an offer or sale of
             440      securities to existing securities holders who have acquired their securities from the issuer in a
             441      transaction in violation of Section 61-1-7 ;
             442          (k) any offer, but not a sale, of a security for which registration statements have been
             443      filed under both this chapter and the Securities Act of 1933 if no stop order or refusal order is
             444      in effect and no public proceeding or examination looking toward such an order is pending;
             445          (l) a distribution of securities as a dividend if the person distributing the dividend is the
             446      issuer of the securities distributed;
             447          (m) any nonissuer transaction effected by or through a registered broker-dealer where
             448      the broker-dealer or issuer files with the division, and the broker-dealer maintains in [his] the
             449      broker-dealer's records, and makes reasonably available upon request to any person expressing
             450      an interest in a proposed transaction in the security with the broker-dealer information
             451      prescribed by the division under its rules;
             452          (n) any transactions not involving a public offering;
             453          (o) any offer or sale of "condominium units" or "time period units" as those terms are
             454      defined in [the] Title 57, Chapter 8, Condominium Ownership Act, whether or not to be sold
             455      by installment contract, if the [provisions of the Condominium Ownership Act] following are
             456      complied with:
             457          (i) Title 57, Chapter 8, Condominium Ownership Act, or if the units are located in
             458      another state, the condominium act of that state[, the];
             459          (ii) Title 57, Chapter 11, Utah Uniform Land Sales Practices Act[, the];
             460          (iii) Title 57, Chapter 19, Utah Timeshare and Camp Resort Act[,]; and [the]


             461          (iv) Title 70C, Utah [Uniform] Consumer Credit Code[ are complied with];
             462          (p) any transaction or series of transactions involving a merger, consolidation,
             463      reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, or sale of assets, if the consideration for
             464      which, in whole or in part, is the issuance of securities of a person or persons, and if:
             465          (i) the transaction or series of transactions is incident to a vote of the securities holders
             466      of each person involved or by written consent or resolution of some or all of the securities
             467      holders of each person involved;
             468          (ii) the vote, consent, or resolution is given under a provision in:
             469          (A) the applicable corporate statute or other controlling statute;
             470          (B) the controlling articles of incorporation, trust indenture, deed of trust, or
             471      partnership agreement; or
             472          (C) the controlling agreement among securities holders;
             473          (iii) (A) one person involved in the transaction is required to file proxy or
             474      informational materials under Section 14 (a) or (c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
             475      Section 20 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and has so filed;
             476          (B) one person involved in the transaction is an insurance company which is exempt
             477      from filing under Section 12(g)(2)(G) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and has filed
             478      proxy or informational materials with the appropriate regulatory agency or official of its
             479      domiciliary state; or
             480          (C) all persons involved in the transaction are exempt from filing under Section
             481      12(g)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and file with the division such proxy or
             482      informational material as the division requires by rule;
             483          (iv) the proxy or informational material is filed with the division and distributed to all
             484      securities holders entitled to vote in the transaction or series of transactions at least ten working
             485      days prior to any necessary vote by the securities holders or action on any necessary consent or
             486      resolution; and
             487          (v) the division does not, by order, deny or revoke the exemption within ten working
             488      days after filing of the proxy or informational materials;
             489          (q) any transaction pursuant to an offer to sell securities of an issuer if:
             490          (i) the transaction is part of an issue in which there are not more than 15 purchasers in
             491      this state, other than those designated in Subsection (2)(h), during any 12 consecutive months;


             492          (ii) no general solicitation or general advertising is used in connection with the offer to
             493      sell or sale of the securities;
             494          (iii) no commission or other similar compensation is given, directly or indirectly, to a
             495      person other than a broker-dealer or agent licensed under this chapter, for soliciting a
             496      prospective purchaser in this state;
             497          (iv) the seller reasonably believes that all the purchasers in this state are purchasing for
             498      investment;
             499          (v) the transaction is part of an aggregate offering that does not exceed $500,000, or a
             500      greater amount as prescribed by a division rule, during any 12 consecutive months; and
             501          (vi) the director, as to a security or transaction, or a type of security or transaction, may
             502      withdraw or further condition this exemption or waive one or more of the conditions in
             503      Subsection (2)(q);
             504          (r) any transaction involving a commodity contract or commodity option; and
             505          (s) any transaction as to which the division finds that registration is not necessary or
             506      appropriate for the protection of investors.
             507          (3) Every person filing an exemption notice or application shall pay a filing fee as
             508      determined under Section 61-1-18.4 .
             509          (4) Upon approval by a majority of the Securities [Advisory] Board, the director, by
             510      means of an adjudicative proceeding conducted in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             511      Administrative Procedures Act, may deny or revoke any exemption specified in Subsection
             512      (1)(g), (h), or (j) or in Subsection (2) with respect to:
             513          (a) a specific security, transaction, or series of transactions; or
             514          (b) any person or issuer, any affiliate or successor to a person or issuer, or any entity
             515      subsequently organized by or on behalf of a person or issuer generally and may impose a fine if
             516      [he] the director finds that the order is in the public interest and that:
             517          (i) the application for or notice of exemption filed with the division is incomplete in
             518      any material respect or contains any statement which was, in the light of the circumstances
             519      under which it was made, false or misleading with respect to any material fact;
             520          (ii) any provision of this chapter, or any rule, order, or condition lawfully imposed
             521      under this chapter [has been] is willfully violated in connection with the offering or exemption
             522      by:


             523          (A) the person filing any application for or notice of exemption;
             524          (B) the issuer, any partner, officer, or director of the issuer, any person occupying a
             525      similar status or performing similar functions, or any person directly or indirectly controlling or
             526      controlled by the issuer, but only if the person filing the application for or notice of exemption
             527      is directly or indirectly controlled by or acting for the issuer; or
             528          (C) any underwriter;
             529          (iii) subject to Subsection (6), the security for which the exemption is sought is the
             530      subject of an administrative stop order or similar order, or a permanent or temporary injunction
             531      or any court of competent jurisdiction entered under any other federal or state act applicable to
             532      the offering or exemption; [the division may not institute a proceeding against an effective
             533      exemption under this subsection more than one year from the date of the order or injunction
             534      relied on, and it may not enter an order under this subsection on the basis of an order or
             535      injunction entered under any other state act unless that order or injunction was based on facts
             536      that would currently constitute a ground for a stop order under this section;]
             537          (iv) the issuer's enterprise or method of business includes or would include activities
             538      that are illegal where performed;
             539          (v) the offering [has worked, has tended] works, tends to work, or would operate to
             540      work a fraud upon purchasers;
             541          (vi) the offering [has been] is or was made with unreasonable amounts of underwriters'
             542      and sellers' discounts, commissions, or other compensation, or promoters' profits or
             543      participation, or unreasonable amounts or kinds of options;
             544          (vii) an exemption is sought for a security or transaction which is not eligible for the
             545      exemption; or
             546          (viii) the proper filing fee, if required, [has] is not [been] paid.
             547          (5) (a) [No] An order under Subsection (4) may not operate retroactively.
             548          (b) [No] A person may not be considered to have violated Section 61-1-7 or 61-1-15 by
             549      reason of any offer or sale effected after the entry of an order under [this] Subsection (4) if [he]
             550      the person sustains the burden of proof that [he] the person did not know, and in the exercise of
             551      reasonable care could not have known, of the order.
             552          (6) (a) The division may not institute a proceeding against an effective exemption
             553      under Subsection (4)(b)(iii) more than one year from the day on which the order or injunction


             554      relied on in instituting the proceeding is entered.
             555          (b) The division may not enter an order under Subsection (4)(b)(iii) on the basis of an
             556      order or injunction entered under any other state act unless that order or injunction is issued on
             557      the basis of facts that would constitute a ground for a stop order under this section at the time
             558      the order is issued under Subsection (4)(b)(iii).
             559          Section 4. Section 61-1-15.5 is amended to read:
             560           61-1-15.5. Federal covered securities.
             561          (1) The division by rule or order may require the filing of any of the following
             562      documents with respect to a covered security under Section 18(b)(2) of the Securities Act of
             563      1933:
             564          (a) prior to the initial offer of federal covered security in this state, a notice form as
             565      prescribed by the division or all documents that are part of a federal registration statement filed
             566      with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, together
             567      with a consent to service of process signed by the issuer and a filing fee as determined under
             568      Section 61-1-18.4 ;
             569          (b) after the initial offer of such federal covered security in this state, all documents
             570      that are part of an amendment to a federal registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities
             571      and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, which shall be filed concurrently
             572      with the division;
             573          (c) a report of the value of federal covered securities offered or sold in this state,
             574      together with a filing fee as determined under Section 61-1-18.4 ; and
             575          (d) a notice filing under this section shall be effective for one year and shall be
             576      renewed annually in order to continue to offer or sell the federal covered securities for which
             577      the notice was filed.
             578          (2) With respect to any security that is a covered security under Section 18(b)(4)(D) of
             579      the Securities Act of 1933, the division by rule or order may require the issuer to file a notice
             580      on SEC Form D and a consent to service of process signed by the issuer no later than 15 days
             581      after the first sale of such covered security in this state, together with a filing fee as determined
             582      under Section 61-1-18.4 .
             583          (3) The division by rule or order may require the filing of any document filed with the
             584      U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, with respect to a


             585      covered security under Section 18(b)(3) or (4) of the Securities Act of 1933, together with a
             586      filing fee as determined under Section 61-1-18.4 .
             587          (4) Upon approval by a majority of the Securities [Advisory] Board, the director, by
             588      means of adjudicative proceedings conducted in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46b,
             589      Administrative Procedures Act, may issue a stop order suspending the offer and sale of any
             590      federal covered security, except a covered security under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act
             591      of 1933, if the director finds that the order is in the public interest and there is a failure to
             592      comply with any condition established under this section.
             593          (5) The division by rule or order may waive any or all of the provisions of this section.
             594          Section 5. Section 61-1-18.3 is amended to read:
             595           61-1-18.3. Information obtained by division -- Use for personal benefit prohibited
             596      -- Disclosure.
             597          (1) It is unlawful for any of the division's employees, a nondepartmental hearing officer
             598      appointed under Section 61-1-6, or any member of the Securities [Advisory] Board to use for
             599      personal benefit any nonpublic information which is filed with or obtained by the division. [No
             600      provision of this]
             601          (2) This chapter [authorizes] does not authorize the division or any of its officers or
             602      employees to disclose any such information except among themselves or when necessary or
             603      appropriate in a proceeding or investigation under this chapter.
             604          (3) No provision of this chapter either creates or derogates from any privilege [which]
             605      that exists at common law or otherwise when documentary or other evidence is sought under
             606      subpoena directed to the division or any of its employees.
             607          Section 6. Section 61-1-18.5 is amended to read:
             608           61-1-18.5. Securities Board established -- Appointment -- Duties -- Qualifications
             609      -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Meetings -- Conflicts of interest -- Expenses.
             610          (1) (a) There is hereby established a Securities [Advisory] Board.
             611          (b) Members of the board shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the
             612      Senate.
             613          (c) The board shall have the following duties:
             614          (i) comply with Subsection 61-1-6 (9) with regard to the appointment of a
             615      nondepartmental hearing officer;


             616          [(i)] (ii) formulate and make recommendations to the director regarding policy and
             617      budgetary matters;
             618          [(ii)] (iii) submit recommendations regarding registration requirements and division
             619      rules;
             620          [(iii)] (iv) formulate and make recommendations to the director regarding the
             621      establishment of reasonable fees; and
             622          [(iv)] (v) generally act in an advisory capacity to the director with respect to the
             623      exercise of [his] the director's duties, powers, and responsibilities.
             624          (2) (a) The Securities [Advisory] Board shall be comprised of five members who shall
             625      be appointed in accordance with the following:
             626          (i) two members from the securities brokerage community who have at least five years
             627      prior experience in securities matters;
             628          (ii) one member from the securities section of the Utah Bar Association;
             629          (iii) one member who is an officer or director of a corporation not subject to the
             630      reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
             631          (iv) one member from the public at large who has no active participation in the
             632      securities business.
             633          (b) No member may serve more than two consecutive terms.
             634          (3) (a) Except as required by Subsection (3)(b), as terms of current board members
             635      expire, the governor shall appoint each new member or reappointed member to a four-year
             636      term.
             637          (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the
             638      time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms to ensure that the terms of
             639      commission members are staggered so that approximately half of the board is appointed every
             640      two years.
             641          (4) (a) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, the replacement shall
             642      be appointed for the unexpired term.
             643          (b) All members shall serve until their respective successors are appointed and
             644      qualified.
             645          (5) The board shall meet at least quarterly on a regular date to be fixed by the board
             646      and at such other times at the call of the director or any two members of the board. A majority


             647      of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Actions of the board
             648      shall require a vote of a majority of those present.
             649          (6) Each member of the board shall, by sworn and written statement filed with the
             650      Department of Commerce and the lieutenant governor, disclose any position of employment or
             651      ownership interest that the member has with respect to any entity or business subject to the
             652      jurisdiction of the division. This statement shall be filed upon appointment and must be
             653      appropriately amended whenever significant changes occur in matters covered by the
             654      statement.
             655          (7) (a) [Members shall receive no] A member of the board may not receive
             656      compensation or benefits for [their] the member's services, but may receive per diem and
             657      expenses incurred in the performance of the member's official duties at the rates established by
             658      the Division of Finance under Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .
             659          (b) [Members] A member may decline to receive per diem and expenses for [their] the
             660      member's service.
             661          Section 7. Section 61-1-18.6 is amended to read:
             662           61-1-18.6. Procedures -- Adjudicative proceedings.
             663          The [Division of Securities] division and any nondepartmental hearing officer
             664      appointed under Section 61-1-6 shall comply with [the procedures and requirements of] Title
             665      63, Chapter 46b, Administrative Procedures Act, in [its] adjudicative proceedings of the
             666      division.
             667          Section 8. Section 61-1-18.7 is amended to read:
             668           61-1-18.7. Funding of securities investor education and training.
             669          (1) There is created a restricted special revenue fund known as the "Securities Investor
             670      Education and Training Fund" to provide revenue for educating the public and the securities
             671      industry as provided in this section.
             672          (2) All money received by the state by reason of civil penalties ordered and
             673      administrative fines collected pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in the Securities
             674      Investor Education and Training Fund, and subject to the requirements of Title 51, Chapter 5,
             675      Funds Consolidation Act.
             676          (3) The special revenue fund may include any fines collected by the division after July
             677      1, 1989, pursuant to voluntary settlements or administrative orders.


             678          (4) (a) The fund shall earn interest.
             679          (b) All interest earned on fund monies shall be deposited into the fund.
             680          (5) Notwithstanding Title 63, Chapter 38, Budgetary Procedures Act, the director may
             681      use special revenue fund monies, upon concurrence of the Securities [Advisory] Board and the
             682      executive director of the Department of Commerce, in a manner consistent with the duties of
             683      the division under this chapter and only for any or all of the following and the expense of
             684      providing them:
             685          (a) education and training of Utah residents in matters concerning securities laws and
             686      investment decisions, by publications or presentations;
             687          (b) education of registrants and licensees under this chapter, by:
             688          (i) publication of this chapter and rules and policy statements and opinion letters of the
             689      division; and
             690          (ii) sponsorship of seminars or meetings to educate registrants and licensees as to the
             691      requirements of this chapter; and
             692          (c) investigation and litigation.
             693          (6) If the balance in the fund exceeds [$100,000] $250,000 at the close of any fiscal
             694      year, the excess shall be transferred to the General Fund.
             695          Section 9. Section 61-1-19 is amended to read:
             696           61-1-19. Investigations authorized.
             697          (1) (a) The division [in its discretion] may make any public or private investigations
             698      within or without this state as [it] the division considers necessary to determine whether any
             699      person has violated, is violating, or is about to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule
             700      or order [hereunder] under this chapter.
             701          (b) To aid in the enforcement of this chapter or in the prescribing of rules and forms
             702      [hereunder] under this chapter, the division may require or permit any person to file a statement
             703      in writing, under oath or otherwise as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter
             704      to be investigated.
             705          (c) The division may publish information concerning any violation of this chapter or
             706      the violation of any rule or order [hereunder] under this chapter.
             707          (2) For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this chapter, the division
             708      [or], any employee designated by [it] the division, or a nondepartmental hearing officer


             709      appointed under Section 61-1-6 may:
             710          (a) administer [oaths and affirmations] an oath or affirmation;
             711          (b) subpoena [witnesses] a witness and compel [their] the attendance of a witness;
             712          (c) take evidence; and
             713          (d) require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda,
             714      agreements, or other documents or records relevant or material to the investigation.


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