House Bill 110
By: Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Ballard of the 147th, Gullett of the 19th, Clark of the
100th, and Westbrook of the 163rd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 5 of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to pawnbrokers, so as to provide certain protections for current military
members and related persons; to prohibit pawnbrokers from making title pawns with covered
borrowers; to provide a penalty for violations; to provide for a definition; to provide for
related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 5 of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to pawnbrokers, is amended in Code Section 44-12-137, relating to prohibited acts,
penalties, presumption as to pledgor, and replacement or damaged goods, by adding a new
subsection to read as follows:
<ins>"(c)(1) As used in this subsection, the term 'covered borrower' shall have the same
meaning as provided in 32 C.F.R. Section 232.3.
(2) No pawnbroker shall conduct a pawn transaction involving a motor vehicle or motor
vehicle certificate of title with a covered borrower.
</ins>
<ins>(3) Any pawnbroker that knowingly conducts a pawn transaction in violation of
paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty of four times the
principal amount advanced in such pawn transaction. Such civil penalty shall be
recoverable in a civil action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction by the
Attorney General or any district attorney."
</ins> SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.