BILL REQ. #:  S-0928.1 

Read first time 01/24/2005.   Referred to Committee on Financial Institutions, Housing & Consumer Protection.

     AN ACT Relating to making loans under chapter 31.45 RCW to military borrowers; and adding a new section to chapter 31.45 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 31.45 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A licensee shall:
     (a) When collecting any delinquent small loan, not garnish any wages or salary paid for service in the armed forces;
     (b) Defer for the duration of the posting all collection activity against a military borrower who has been deployed to a combat or combat support posting;
     (c) Not contact the military chain of command of a military borrower in an effort to collect a delinquent small loan;
     (d) Honor the terms of any repayment agreement between the licensee and any military borrower, including any repayment agreement negotiated through military counselors or third party credit counselors; and
     (e) Make no loans to a military borrower if a military base commander has declared that a specific location of the licensee's business is off limits to military personnel.
     (2) For purposes of this section, "military borrower" means any active duty member of the armed forces of the United States, or any member of the national guard or the reserves of the armed forces of the United States who has been called to active duty.