MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Business and Financial Institutions

By: Senator(s) Woodfield

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 63-19-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A MOTOR VEHICLE RETAIL INSTALLMENT CONTRACT SHALL INCLUDE THE AMOUNT, IF ANY, ACTUALLY PAID OR TO BE PAID BY THE SELLER PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE BUYER TO DISCHARGE A SECURITY INTEREST, LIEN OR LEASE INTEREST ON PROPERTY TRADED IN; TO AMEND SECTION 75-17-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT NEGATIVE EQUITY MAY BE CAPITALIZED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE LEASE IF THE FINANCE CHARGE RATE ASSOCIATED WITH THE LEASE CONTRACT DOES NOT EXCEED THE LIMITATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE PURCHASES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 63-19-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

63-19-31. (1) (a) A retail installment contract shall be in writing, shall be signed by both the buyer and the seller, and shall be completed as to all essential provisions prior to the signing of the contract by the buyer.

(b) The printed portion of the contract, other than instructions for completion, shall be in at least eight point type. The contract shall contain in a size equal to at least ten point bold type:

(i) A specific statement that liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage caused to others is not included, if that is the case; and

(ii) The following notice: "Notice to the Buyer: 1. Do not sign this contract before you read it or if it contains any blank spaces. 2. You are entitled to an exact copy of the contract you sign."

(c) The seller shall deliver to the buyer, or mail to him at his address shown on the contract, a copy of the contract signed by the seller. Until the seller does so, a buyer who has not received delivery of the motor vehicle shall have the right to rescind his agreement and to receive a refund of all payments made and return of all goods traded in to the seller on account of or in contemplation of the contract, or if such goods cannot be returned, the value thereof. Any acknowledgment by the buyer of the delivery of a copy of the contract shall be in a size equal to at least ten point bold type and, if contained in the contract, shall appear directly above the buyer's signature.

(d) The contract shall contain the names of the seller and the buyer, the place of business of the seller, the residence or place of business of the buyer as specified by the buyer and a description of the motor vehicle including its make, year model, model and identification numbers or marks.

(2) The contract shall contain the following items:

(a) The cash sale price of the motor vehicle;

(b) The amount of the buyer's down payment, and whether made in money or goods, or partly in money and partly in goods;

(c) The difference between items (a) and (b);

(d) The amount, if any, included for insurance and other benefits specifying the types of coverage and benefits;

(e) The amount of official fees;

(f) The amount, if any, actually paid or to be paid by the seller pursuant to an agreement with the buyer to discharge a security interest, lien or lease interest on property traded in;

(g) The principal balance, which is the sum of items (c), (d), and (e);

(h) The amount of the finance charge;

(i) The time balance, which is the sum of items (f) and (g), payable in installments by the buyer to the seller, the number of installments, the amount of each installment and the due date or period thereof.

The above items need not be stated in the sequence or order set forth. Additional items may be included to explain the calculations involved in determining the stated time balance to be paid by the buyer. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, in any contract evidencing the sale of a commercial vehicle, the statement of the amount of the finance charge (item (g) hereof) and the amount of each installment (item (h) hereof) may be calculated using the finance charge rate applicable to the transaction as of the date of execution of the contract, notwithstanding the fact that such finance charge rate may increase or decrease over the term of the contract according to any formula or index set forth in the contract; provided, however, that under no circumstances may the variable rate under such contract at any time exceed the finance charge limitations found in Section 63-19-43, of this chapter.

(3) No retail installment contract shall be signed by any party thereto when it contains blank spaces to be filled in after it has been signed except that, if delivery of the motor vehicle is not made at the time of the execution of the contract, the identifying numbers or marks of the motor vehicle or similar information and the due date of the first installment may be inserted in the contract after its execution. The buyer's written acknowledgment, conforming to the requirements of subdivision (c) of subsection (1) of this section, of delivery of a copy of a contract shall be conclusive proof of such delivery, that the contract when signed did not contain any blank spaces except as herein provided, and of compliance with Sections 63-19-31 to 63-19-41 in any action or proceeding by or against the holder of the contract.

SECTION 2. Section 75-17-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

75-17-1. (1) The legal rate of interest on all notes, accounts and contracts shall be eight percent (8%) per annum, calculated according to the actuarial method, but contracts may be made, in writing, for payment of a finance charge as otherwise provided by this section or as otherwise authorized by law.

(2) Any borrower or debtor may contract for and agree to pay a finance charge for any loan or other extension of credit made directly or indirectly to a borrower or debtor which will result in a yield not to exceed the greater of ten percent (10%) per annum or five percent (5%) per annum above the discount rate, excluding any surcharge thereon, on ninety-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve bank in the Federal Reserve district where the lender is located, each calculated according to the actuarial method. The rate of finance charge authorized under this subsection (2) shall be known as the "contract rate."

(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of law to the contrary, any partnership, joint venture, religious society, unincorporated association, or domestic or foreign corporation, whether organized for profit or nonprofit, may contract for and agree to pay a finance charge which will result in a yield not to exceed the greater of fifteen percent (15%) per annum or five percent (5%) per annum above the discount rate, excluding any surcharge thereon, on ninety-day commercial paper in effect at the Federal Reserve bank in the Federal Reserve district where the lender is located, each calculated according to the actuarial method, on any contract, loan, extension of credit or other obligation under which the principal balance to be repaid shall originally exceed Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or on any series of advances of money pursuant to a contract if the aggregate of sums advanced or originally proposed to be advanced shall exceed Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); and as to any such agreement, the claim or defense of usury by such partnership, joint venture, religious society, unincorporated association, or corporation, or their successors, guarantors, assigns or anyone on their behalf is prohibited.

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of law to the contrary, any borrower or debtor may contract for and agree to pay a finance charge which will result in a yield not to exceed the greater of ten percent (10%) per annum or five percent (5%) per annum above the index of market yields of the Monthly Twenty-Year Constant Maturity Index of Long-Term United States Government Bond Yields, as compiled by the United States Treasury Department, each calculated according to the actuarial method, on any loan, mortgage or advance which is secured by a lien on residential real property or by a lien on stock in a residential cooperative housing corporation where the loan, mortgage or advance is used to finance the acquisition of such stock. The term "residential real property," as used in this subsection, means real estate upon which there is located or to be located a structure or structures designed in whole or in part for residential use, or which comprises or includes one or more apartments, condominium units or other dwelling units.

(5) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision of law to the contrary, any borrower or debtor may contract for and agree to pay and any lender or extender of credit may contract for and receive any finance charge agreed to in writing by the parties, notwithstanding that such charge is in excess of that otherwise allowed on any contract, credit sale, obligation or other extension of credit, regardless of the security taken or the purpose of the extension of credit, under which the principal balance to be repaid originally exceeds Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or on any series of advances of money pursuant to a contract if the aggregate of sums advanced or originally proposed to be advanced exceeds Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00), or on any extension or renewal thereof; and as to any such agreement, the claim or defense of usury or violation of any law prescribing, limiting or regulating the rate of finance charge by any borrower or debtor, or his successors, guarantors, assigns or anyone on his behalf is prohibited.

This subsection (5) shall stand repealed on July 1, 2001.

(6) Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provisions of law to the contrary, the outstanding balance of a prior loan or lease of a motor vehicle used as a trade-in, as well as other items that are capitalized or amortized during the lease term, may be included in a lease for a motor vehicle, provided that the rate of finance charge associated with the lease contract does not at any time exceed the finance charge limitations specified in Section 63-19-43.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.