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Washington D.C. launches financial advisement hotline for those effected by Covid-19
On February 22, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking would be partnering with the United Planning Organization to administer a free hotline to connect District residents who were financially harmed by Covid-19 with trained financial “navigators.” These navigators will offer advice and help connect residents to various programs and services to help manage income disruptions and other financial concerns, including foreclosure mediation.
D.C. enacts law extending obligations for debt collection, credit reporting, mortgage servicing, and evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic
On August 19, the mayor of D.C. signed the Coronavirus Support Second Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2020. The act extends the provisions of D.C.’s prior Covid-19 relief act (previously covered here), which was set to expire after 90 days, until November 16. Among other things, the act includes consumer protection provisions, including provisions regarding debt collection and credit reporting. It also provides housing and tenant protections, including in the areas of mortgage relief, restrictions on evictions, and foreclosures.
District of Columbia amends law relating to emergency credit alerts during Covid-19
On July 7, the mayor of D.C. signed D.C. Act 23-0332, which amends the Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, previously covered here, and certain other laws to, among other things, add provisions relating to emergency credit alerts. Under the amendments, a user of a credit report may not consider adverse information in a consumer report that was the result of an action or inaction by the consumer that occurred during, and was the direct or indirect result of, a public health emergency declared by the mayor, if the credit report includes an emergency credit alert.
D.C. law creates new requirements for debt collection, creditor reporting, and mortgage servicing during the Covid-19 pandemic
On June 8, the mayor of D.C. signed the Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act, which amended and consolidated four existing emergency acts passed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic (including the Coronavirus Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act and Foreclosure Moratorium Emergency Amendment Act). Among other things, the new act includes requirements for debt collection, credit reporting, remote notarizations, mortgage lending, and eviction and foreclosure moratoriums. It requires mortgage lenders to offer 90 day payment deferrals, waive late fees, and cease negative credit reporting, subject to specific requirements. It also prohibits initiating or conducting foreclosure sales on residential mortgages for the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency and for 60 days thereafter, subject to certain specified limitations, and prohibits residential and commercial evictions during the same time period.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issues FAQs on mortgage deferment
The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issued responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the residential and commercial mortgage deferment program under the District of Columbia’s Covid-19 Response Supplemental Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. The FAQs provide guidance on, among other things, which entities and financial institutions are considered mortgage lenders under the act and therefore subject to the requirements, mortgage lenders’ obligations under the act, how borrowers should apply for the mortgage deferment plan, and record-keeping requirements under the act.
District of Columbia amends emergency Covid-19 response legislation to add reporting obligations for mortgage deferments
On May 4, the District of Columbia amended the Covid-19 Response Supplemental Emergency Amendment Act (previously covered here) to, among other things, include mortgage lenders as covered entities and require lenders to provide the commissioner of the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking with lists of all approved mortgage deferments in 15-day intervals.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issues FAQs
The District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issued responses to frequently asked questions regarding the effect of Covid-19 on the administration of securities laws and regulations of the District of Columbia. The FAQs respond to questions regarding filings, the processing of licensing or registration applications, and remote work for securities professionals, among others.
D.C. attorney general alerts residents about debt collection protection
On April 30, D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine issued an alert informing district residents about debt collection protection during the Covid-19 crisis. According to Racine, residents are protected from the majority of debt collection activities during the state of emergency in place for the district. The consumer protections are a result of a proposal passed by D.C. Council on April 10, and are valid throughout the state of emergency plus an additional 60 days afterwards.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issues order providing relief to policyholders
On April 27, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issued an order imposing certain requirements on insurance companies authorized to conduct business in the District of Columbia. Among other things, insurance companies and premium finance companies are prohibited from terminating insurance contracts due to non-payment. Insurance companies must make reasonable accommodations for policyholders during the Covid-19 emergency, such as through waiving installment, late payment, or reinstatement fees, extending billing due dates and premium grace periods, and providing an option to use electronic payment technology. The order also provides guidance concerning premium relief and the department’s review of form and rate filings.
District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issues bulletin regarding submission of filings
On April 24, the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking issued a Bulletin 0X-SB-00X 03/20 suspending the procedures established by Bulletin 03-SB-04-03/21 in light of the Covid-19 public health emergency. Required filings and fee payments that would have been submitted pursuant to the procedures outlined in Bulletin 03-SB-04-03/21 must now be submitted to the department via PDF to a specified email address. Further, instead of physical checks, the associated payments must be submitted in electronic form in accordance with the instructions in the bulletin.
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Upcoming Events
- Jonice Gray Tucker to join CFPB panel at CBA’s Washington Forum
- Jonice Gray Tucker to moderate “Pandemic relief response and lasting impacts on access, credit, banking, and equality” at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Spring Meeting
- Jeffrey P. Naimon to discuss "Post-pandemic CFPB exam preparation" at the Mortgage Bankers Association Spring Conference & Expo
- Jonice Gray Tucker to discuss "Making fair lending work for you" at the Mortgage Bankers Association Spring Conference & Expo
- Jonice Gray Tucker to discuss "Reading the tea leaves of President Biden’s initial financial appointees" at LendIt Fintech
- Moorari K. Shah to discuss “CA, NY, federal licensing and disclosure” at the Equipment Leasing & Finance Association Legal Forum
- Jonice Gray Tucker to discuss "Compliance under Biden" at the WSJ Risk & Compliance Forum
- Jonice Gray Tucker to discuss “The future of fair lending” at the Mortgage Bankers Association Legal Issues and Regulatory Compliance Conference