CR_09-110 Hearing to consider rules to create Ch. DWD 273, relating to the regulation of traveling sales crews.  

  • Iowa:
    Iowa has no requirement, allowance, or means for a secured party to electronically file security interest statements.
    Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
    Since 2007, all licensed motor vehicle dealers are required to process title and registration transactions. This law is implemented in chs. Trans 141 and Trans 156 .
    While financial institutions affected by ch. Trans 148 are of course different from motor vehicle dealers, many of the issues involved in electronically processing transactions and updating the DMV database are the same. For example, all transactions are subject to the same federal and state privacy laws and DMV security procedures. All transactions utilize the same methods of payment to DMV.
    Therefore, the Department uses chs. Trans 141 and Trans 156 as a basis for ch. Trans 148 , with changes as needed to address the different needs of secured parties.
    Analysis and supporting documents used to determine effect on small businesses
    The Department has analyzed the number of security interests listed on motor vehicle titles, by non-individual secured party, for calendar year 2008. There are more than 15,700 different secured parties that have current liens listed on motor vehicle titles.
    The Department then excluded from the count security interests that were added as part of a title transaction (generally, a vehicle purchase in which the buyer obtained a loan). Of the total 15,700 secured parties, only about 2,080 secured parties listed security interests that are not part of a title transaction. Of the 2,080, only 433 secured parties listed 50 or more security interests, not part of a title transaction, in 2008. The 433 secured parties that listed 50 or more security interests are responsible for a total of 95,489 security interests not part of a title transaction. This is 88% of all security interests that are not part of a title transaction listed in calendar year 2008. The remaining 1,647 secured parties listed only 13,311 security interests not part of a title transaction, or 12% of all non-title security interests listed in 2008.
    Therefore, the Department has concluded that a cut-off of 48 or fewer non-title transactions is a reasonable number. This number is the same number of sales which exempt a motor vehicle dealer from requirements under ch. Trans 141 , making program administration and communication with DMV's business partners easier while, at the same time, this number captures a very large share of the security interest filing volume.
    In this proposed rule, the Department proposes the exemption cut-off at 48 or fewer non-title security interests listed during the previous calendar year.
    Small Business Impact
    Most non-individual secured parties are financial institutions, located in and outside Wisconsin. Virtually all financial institutions maintain their records in electronic format and possess computers and access to the Internet. On the other hand, the Department recognizes that some small businesses do not possess this capability.
    While there is not a direct connection between the size of the business and the amount of business done with the Department, the Department believes that this is an adequate measure of a small business for which it may be difficult to purchase necessary hardware and software, or to hire sufficient staff to manage electronic security interest statement filing. Therefore, the proposed rule exempts secured parties that have filed 48 or fewer security interest statements in motor vehicles during the previous calendar year.
    Small Business Regulatory Coordinator
    The Department's Regulatory Review Coordinator may be contacted by e-mail at ralph.sanders@dot.state.wi.us , or by calling (414) 438-4585.
    Fiscal Estimate
    The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on the liabilities or revenues of any county, city, village, town, school district, vocational, technical and adult education district, sewerage district, or federally-recognized tribes or bands.
    The Department estimates that there will be no fiscal impact on state or private sector revenues or liabilities.
    Agency Contact Person
    Carson Frazier
    Dept. of Transportation — Bureau of Vehicle Services
    Room 253, P. O. Box 7911
    Madison, WI 53707-7911
    Phone : (608) 266-7857
    Notice of Hearing
    Workforce Development
    Labor Standards, Chs. DWD 270-279
    NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to ss. 103.34 (13) and 227.11 , Stats., the Department of Workforce Development proposes to hold a public hearing to consider the creation of Chapter DWD 273 , relating to the regulation of traveling sales crews.
    Hearing Information
    Date and Time
    Location
    January 20, 2010
    Madison
    Wednesday
    G.E.F. 1 Building, B103
    1:30 p.m.
    201 E. Washington Avenue
    Accessibility
    Visitors to the GEF 1 building are requested to enter through the left East Washington Avenue door and register with the customer service desk. The entrance is accessible via a ramp from the corner of Webster Street and East Washington Avenue. If you have special needs or circumstances regarding communication or accessibility at the hearing, please call (608) 267-9403 at least 10 days prior to the hearing date. Accommodations such as ASL interpreters, English translators, or materials in audiotape format will be made available on request to the fullest extent possible.
    Copies of Proposed Rule
    The proposed rules are available for review at the website http://adminrules.wisconsin.gov and may also be obtained by contacting Howard Bernstein, Office of Legal Counsel, Dept. of Workforce Development, P.O. Box 7946, Madison, WI 53707-7946, (608) 266-9427, or Howard.Bernstein@ dwd.wisconsin.gov .
    Appearances at the Hearing and Submission of Written Comments
    Interested persons are invited to appear at the hearing and will be afforded the opportunity to make an oral presentation of their positions. Persons making oral presentations are requested to submit their facts, views, and suggested rewording in writing.
    Written comments on the rule may be submitted to the website or to Howard Bernstein at the address listed above by January 22, 2010, and will be given the same consideration as testimony presented at the hearing.
    Analysis Prepared by the Department of Workforce Development
    Statutory authority
    Sections 103.34 (13) and 227.11(2) , Stats.
    Statutes interpreted
    Section 103.34 (13) , Stats.
    Explanation of agency authority
    Section 103.34 , Stats., created by 2009 Wisconsin Act 3 , provides for the regulation of traveling sales crews, which involves the employment of groups of persons as salespersons who travel to a variety of locations and sell consumer goods or services door to door. Section 103.34(13) , Stats., provides the authority for rules interpreting the statute, establishing fees, and setting requirements for registration and safety.
    Summary of the proposed rule
    After providing brief statements on the authority, purpose and applicability of the rule, the proposed rule enumerates the items required for a certificate of registration. These include: a completed application form; two completed fingerprint cards (for the purpose of a criminal background check) for each person who is a proprietor, managing partner, manager, principal officer, employee, agent or representative of the traveling sales crew business who supervises or transports traveling sales crew workers; verification that the applicant has a surety bond, a certificate of deposit, an escrow account, or an irrevocable letter of credit, in the amount of at least $10,000; a registration fee, in the amount of $60 for each individual for whom a background check is required; a mechanic's certification that all vehicles to be used to transport sales crews are in compliance with all safety standards; copies of the information that is to be provided to employees describing the transportation to be provided, and any hazardous materials (such as cleaning supplies) that the crew may be storing, handling, transporting or otherwise having exposure to; and documents showing that the operator applicant has the required amount of insurance coverage.
    The proposed rule provides that the Department will begin to process the application when it has received all of the required documents, and it will complete its processing of the application within 30 days of receipt of the results of the criminal background check.
    The proposed rule specifies standards for the fingerprint cards that are to be submitted as part of the certification application, requires the applicant or certified operator to notify the Department of any change in information that has been submitted to the Department, and provides that a certificate of registration may be denied, suspended or revoked if the Department determines that the applicant or certified operator is not in compliance with the law.
    The proposed rule specifies the employment and wage payment records that are to be maintained by a certified operator. The proposed rule requires that the vehicles used must meet all safety requirements and that the certified operator must provide written information to the crew members on the safe handling, storage and transportation of any products or other materials that accompany the crew in their vehicles.
    The proposed rule describes the information that must be provided by the operator to the Department to obtain traveling sales crew member permits. This includes, for each crew member, a government picture ID, information on the area of recruitment, the locations where the crew will be working, a description of the duties of the crew members, a description of the products being sold, and a statement verifying that this information has been provided to the crew member. The proposed rule provides that permit applications will be processed and permits issued within ten days after the receipt of all application materials. The proposed rule provides that operators and crew members are required to carry permits and identification at all times while working.
    The proposed rule provides that a person who is required to obtain a traveling sales crew member permit is entitled to file a claim for unpaid wages with the Department under sec. 109.09, Stats.
    Comparison with federal regulations
    There is no federal law which regulates traveling sales crews or which requires work permits for door to door sales.
    Comparison with laws in adjacent states
    None of the states adjacent to Wisconsin (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota) has a law which regulates traveling sales crews.
    Summary of factual data and analytical methodologies
    The proposed rule is based on the requirements of sec. 103.34, Stats.
    Small Business Impact
    Because the proposed rule carries forward the requirements of the statute and does not establish new requirements, the proposed rule does not have an effect on small business.
    Fiscal Estimate
    Summary
    The proposed rule does not create any costs that are separate from costs potentially due to the new statute.
    State fiscal effect
    None.
    Local government fiscal effect
    None.
    Long-range fiscal implications
    None.
    Agency Contact Person
    Timara Budack, Section Chief
    Labor Standards Section
    (608) 267-2495