Sec. 151.301. DEFINITIONS. (a) This section defines terms that apply to an applicant for or holder of a money transmission license issued under this subchapter.
(b) In this subchapter:
(1) "Currency" means the coin and paper money of the United States or another country that is designated as legal tender and circulates and is customarily used and accepted as a medium of exchange in the country of issuance.
(2) "Electronic instrument" means a card or other tangible object for the transmission, transfer, or payment of money or monetary value, that contains an electronic chip or strip for the storage of information or that provides access to information.
(3) "Money" or "monetary value" means currency or a claim that can be converted into currency through a financial institution, electronic payments network, or other formal or informal payment system.
(4) "Money transmission" means the receipt of money or monetary value by any means in exchange for a promise to make the money or monetary value available at a later time or different location. The term:
(A) includes:
(i) selling or issuing stored value or payment instruments, including checks, money orders, and traveler's checks;
(ii) receiving money or monetary value for transmission, including by payment instrument, wire, facsimile, electronic transfer, or ACH debit;
(iii) providing third-party bill paying services; or
(iv) receiving currency or an instrument payable in currency to physically transport the currency or its equivalent from one location to another by motor vehicle or other means of transportation or through the use of the mail or a shipping, courier, or other delivery service; and
(B) does not include the provision solely of online or telecommunication services or connection services to the Internet.
(5) "Outstanding" means:
(A) with respect to a payment instrument or stored value, a payment instrument or stored value that has been issued and sold in the United States directly by the license holder, or sold by an authorized delegate of the license holder in the United States and reported to the license holder, that has not yet been paid by or for the license holder; or
(B) with respect to transmission, a money transmission for which the license holder, directly or through an authorized delegate of the license holder, has received money or monetary value from the customer for transmission, but has not yet completed the money transmission by delivering the money or monetary value to the person designated by the customer or refunded the money or monetary value to the customer.
(6) "Payment instrument" means a written or electronic equivalent of a check, draft, money order, traveler's check, or other written or electronic instrument, service, or device for the transmission or payment of money or monetary value, sold or issued to one or more persons, regardless of whether negotiable. The term does not include an instrument, service, or device that:
(A) transfers money directly from a purchaser to a creditor of the purchaser or to an agent of the creditor;
(B) is redeemed by the issuer in goods or services or a cash or credit refund under circumstances not designed to evade the obligations and responsibilities imposed by this chapter; or
(C) is a credit card voucher or letter of credit.
(9) "Unsafe or unsound act or practice" means a practice of or conduct by a license holder or an authorized delegate of the license holder that creates the likelihood of material loss, insolvency, or dissipation of the license holder's assets, or that otherwise materially prejudices the interests of the license holder or the license holder's customers.
(8) "Stored value" means monetary value evidenced by an electronic record that is prefunded and for which value is reduced on each use. The term includes prepaid access as defined by 31 C.F.R. Section 1010.100(ww). The term does not include an electronic record that is:
(A) loaded with points, miles, or other nonmonetary value;
(B) not sold to the public but distributed as a reward or charitable donation; or
(C) redeemable only for goods or services from a specified merchant or set of affiliated merchants, such as:
(i) a specified retailer or retail chain;
(ii) a set of affiliated companies under common ownership;
(iii) a college campus; or
(iv) a mass transportation system.
(7) Repealed by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 75 , Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1099 (H.B. 2218), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 988 (H.B. 2134), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2013.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 75 (S.B. 899), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2015.
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