SYSTEM FOR REPORTING TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY KAMALA D. HARRIS Attorney General State of California DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE E-Mail Address: CAPSS@doj.ca.gov March 19, 2015 To: All California Pawnbrokers and Secondhand Dealers/Store Administrators RE: The California Pawn and Secondhand Dealer System (CAPSS) The California Department of Justice (DOJ) was mandated pursuant to Assembly Bill 391 (Stats 2012, Ch. 172, Pan) to develop and implement a statewide, uniform electronic reporting system that would allow for the electronic reporting of property transaction reports (Pawnbroker/Secondhand Dealer Reports - JUS 123). The initial California Pawn and Secondhand Dealer System (CAPSS), which presented core functionality to meet the Legislative mandate was implemented by the DOJ in December 2014. Since that time, the DOJ and its contractor have been working diligently on phase-in improvements. The DOJ is happy to announce these improvements are nearing readiness. This exciting iteration will provide pawn and secondhand dealers with vastly improved user capabilities. A few of these capabilities include an auto registration component, multiple property transaction bulk upload, and an advanced licensing application for law enforcement which will streamline the licensing process. The DOJ anticipates several waves of improvement releases between April and June. Pawnbroker/Secondhand Dealer Equipment Requirements There is no cost to be a user of CAPSS, however stores will be required to purchase the equipment listed below in order to utilize the new system. Computer with Internet Access o Browser Requirements: IE 9x or higher Mozilla Firefox 16.x or higher Google Chrome 20.x or higher Safari 6.1 or higher Electronic Fingerprint Reader Electronic Signature Pad E-mail accounts 100
For up-to-date information on the CAPSS System Please go to: http://oag.ca.gov/secondhand/capss or contact the DOJ CAPSS Team Leader directly at CAPSS@doj.ca.gov State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General Kamala D. Harris ~ Attorney General CALIFORNIA PAWN & SECONDHANDDEALER SYSTEM (CAPSS) Update March 2015 The initial California Pawn & SecondhandDealer System (CAPSS) introducing core functionality, which met the Legislative mandate, was implemented by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in December 2014. Since that time, the DOJ and its contractor have been working diligently on phase-in improvements. The DOJ is happy to announce these improvements are nearing readiness. The exciting iteration will provide pawn and secondhand dealers with vastly improved user capabilities. A few of these capabilities include an auto-registration component, multiple property transaction bulk upload capability, and an advanced licensing application for law enforcement which will streamline the licensing process. The DOJ anticipates several waves of improvement releases, between April and June. In the next few weeks, the DOJ will be working with various stores and law enforcement agencies to ensure the various data submissions processes are successful, including the ability to batch a file (batch upload or bulk upload) containing multiple property transaction reports. The following equipment will be required to use CAPSS: Computer with Internet Access Fingerprint Scanner Electronic Signature Pad Browser Requirements: IE 9.x or higher Mozilla Firefox 16.x or higher Google Chrome 20.x or higher Safari 6.1 or higher Below are some basic facts and specifications for data submission: System will allow for a single XML file with one or more property transaction reports (see XML data specifications document). Each property transaction report (PTR) can contain multiple property transaction items. There is no limit to the number of items that can be included as part of a single property transaction report. The Customer signature and thumbprint will be required. The maximum image size allowed is 75KB. The images must be embedded into the XML file (base-64 encoded). Additional information regarding system readiness will be provided via this website to assist clients/users in their preparedness efforts for system implementation. PHONE 916-669-5322 WWW.CALIFORNIAPAWNBROKERSASSOCIATION.ORG 101
California Department of Justice Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigative Services California Pawn & SecondhandDealer System (CAPSS) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What is the California Pawn & Secondhand Dealer System (CAPSS)? CAPSS is the name given to the electronic reporting system that is being developed to meet the legislative mandate for secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers to electronically submit the Secondhand/Pawnbroker Report (JUS 123) to the California Department of Justice (DOJ). The CAPSS is a secured, web-based electronic reporting system that requires the use of a desktop/laptop computer and a standard web browser. 2. Why is the CAPSS being developed? Existing law requires secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers to report daily (or on the first working day after receipt) on purchases of secondhand tangible personal property to local law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The current process involves a hard copy JUS 123 to their local LEA where the information may be entered into the DOJ Automated Property System (APS). In 2012, Assembly Bill (AB) 391 was enacted which established a new requirement that secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers electronically report to the DOJ all secondhand tangible property which has been purchased, taken in trade, taken in pawn, accepted for sale on consignment, or accepted for auctioning (Business & Professions Code, Section 21630 and 21633, subdivision (j)). Secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers will be able to electronically submit the required JUS 123 data directly into the CAPSS through a web-based system. LEA s will have access to CAPSS allowing them to perform their investigative duties. 3. When is the CAPSS due to be fully implemented and when am I, the user, required to utilize the new system? Tentative rollout for the CAPSS is scheduled for Spring 2015. B & P Code section 21628 requires that on and after the date that the DOJ implements the single, statewide, uniform electronic reporting system, secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers shall electronically report using that system however; they should continue to report to the appropriate LEA using their current method for 30 days after full implementation. 4. When entering property transaction data into CAPSS, will there be article table provided? CAPSS will utilize an Article table similar to what is in the Automated Property System (APS). The articles used for the property transactions must be from the CAPSS article table for both online and bulk upload submissions. The CAPSS article table is available for downloading on the Attorney General s Public Internet Website in the CAPSS page. 102
5. How will pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers and law enforcement be notified that the system is fully functional? The CAPSS team will provide information regarding the onboarding process to ensure that all stores and licensing authorities have a smooth transition to the new system. The CAPSS team will notify all active licensees and licensing authorities by U.S. postal service and email. 6. Who will be the main users of CAPSS? Main users of CAPSS will include active secondhand dealer and pawnbrokers, their designated employees and authorized law enforcement personnel. 7. Are Flea Markets and Antique Stores required to report into CAPSS? No, flea market and antique stores are not required to report their property transactions via CAPSS. 8. Will there be costs associated with using CAPSS or will there be any special equipment or software needed? There is no cost associated with being a user of CAPSS, however, there may be some equipment costs (e.g., computer or laptop with internet capabilities, electronic fingerprint reader and/or electronic signature pad) that businesses will need to purchase in order to electronically submit all the required data pursuant to B & P Code section 21628. 9. What is the difference between a state secondhand dealer license and a pawnbroker license? A secondhand dealer is any person, whose business includes buying, selling, taking in trade, taking in pawn, taken on consignment, accepting for auction or auctioning secondhand tangible personal property. A pawnbroker is any person engaged in the business of receiving goods in pledge as security for a loan. A pawnbroker is also a secondhand dealer, but a secondhand dealer is not a pawnbroker. Financial Code Section 21303 also requires a pawnbroker to file with the licensing agency a $20,000 non-revocable surety bond in favor of the State of California. In addition, Financial Code Section 21304 requires the applicant to submit to the licensing agency a certified financial statement that he/she has at least $100,000 in liquid assets, not including real property, to be utilized in the course of business, signed by a California certified public accountant; or post a non-revocable bond in the amount of $100,000 with the local licensing agency prior to the issuance of a pawnbroker license. PHONE 916-669-5322 WWW.CALIFORNIAPAWNBROKERSASSOCIATION.ORG 103
10. What if the pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers shop has its own system for processing pawnbroker and secondhand dealer transactions? Would their system be able to interface with the CAPSS? No, not at this time. There will not be an actual interface with CAPSS to other systems operated by Pawnbrokers or Secondhand Dealers. The CAPSS will provide the ability to upload a data file from their local system that meets the DOJ data file requirements. A data file technical specifications document is available on the AG s Public Internet Website. 11. Does the LEA have the capability to hold a license if the pawnbroker or secondhand dealer is out of compliance with other county and city licenses or permits? CAPSS will have a licensing component that will help the jurisdictional authority to ensure license compliance. 12. How long will the transactions data be retained in the CAPSS? Record transactions will be retained in CAPSS for a period of five years. 13. Will the Scrap Metal Recyclers be able to submit their property transactions into the CAPSS? No, not at this time. Scrap Metal Recyclers should continue to use their current method of reporting to the appropriate LEA. 104