BILL NUMBER: AB 811	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member John A. Perez

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Sections 1789.30 and 1789.35 of the Civil Code,
and to amend Sections 13004.1 and 14610.1 of the Vehicle Code,
relating to identification documents.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 811, as introduced, John A. Perez. Identification documents.
   Existing law prohibits a check casher from charging a fee of more
than $10 to set up an initial account and issue an optional
identification card for providing check cashing services.
   This bill would prohibit a check casher from selling any
identification card other than that optional check cashing
identification card. The bill would also prohibit a check casher from
requiring a customer to purchase a check cashing identification card
to access services. The bill would make related changes.
   Existing law prohibits any person from manufacturing or selling an
identification document of a size and form substantially similar to
the identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Existing law provides that a violation of that provision is a
misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1,000, which shall not be
suspended, and the person is required to perform not less than 24
hours of community service during hours when the person is not
employed and is not attending school.
   This bill would modify the punishment for that crime to be a fine
of $1,000 or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one
year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The bill would delete
the community service requirement and the prohibition against
suspending the punishment. Because this bill would change the penalty
for an existing crime, it would impose a state-mandated local
program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1789.30 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
   1789.30.  (a) (1) Every check casher, as applicable to the
services provided, shall post a complete, detailed, and unambiguous
schedule of all fees for (A) cashing checks, drafts, money orders, or
other commercial paper serving the same purpose, (B) the sale or
issuance of money orders, and (C) the initial issuance of any
identification card  for accessing check cashing services as
described in subdivision (b) of Section 1789.35  . Each check
casher shall also post a list of valid identification which is
acceptable in lieu of identification provided by the check casher.
The information required by this section shall be clear, legible, and
in letters not less than one-half inch in height. The information
shall be posted in a conspicuous location in the unobstructed view of
the public within the check casher's premises.
   (2) A check casher may be required to file a return required by
Section 18631.7 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
   (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section shall
become operative December 31, 2004.
   (2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) shall apply to checks cashed on or after January 1,
2006.
   (B) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this
subparagraph shall become operative on January 1, 2008.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1789.35 of the Civil Code is amended to read:
   1789.35.  (a) A check casher shall not charge a fee for cashing a
payroll check or government check in excess of 3 percent if
identification is provided by the customer, or 3.5 percent without
the provision of identification, of the face amount of the check, or
three dollars ($3), whichever is greater. Identification, for
purposes of this section, is limited to a California driver's
license, a California identification card, or a valid United States
military identification card.  A check casher shall not sell any
identification card except as   provided in subdivision (b).

   (b) A check casher may charge a fee of no more than ten dollars
($10) to set up an initial account and issue an optional
identification card for providing check cashing services. A
replacement optional identification card may be issued at a cost not
to exceed five dollars ($5).  A check casher shall not require a
customer to purchase a check cashing identification card to access
services. 
   (c) A check casher shall provide a receipt to the customer for
each transaction.
   (d) A check casher may charge a fee for cashing a personal check,
as posted pursuant to Section 1789.30, for immediate deposit in an
amount not to exceed 12 percent of the face value of the check.
   (e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be
liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand dollars
($2,000) for each violation, which shall be assessed and recovered in
a civil action brought in the name of the people of the State of
California by the Attorney General in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Any action brought pursuant to this subdivision shall
be commenced within four years of the date on which the act or
transaction upon which the action is based occurred.
   (f) A willful violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
   (g) Any person who is injured by any violation of this section may
bring an action for the recovery of damages, an equity proceeding to
restrain and enjoin those violations, or both. The amount awarded
may be up to three times the damages actually incurred, but in no
event less than the amount paid by the aggrieved consumer to a person
subject to this section. If the plaintiff prevails, the plaintiff
shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. If a court
determines by clear and convincing evidence that a breach or
violation was willful, the court, in its discretion, may award
punitive damages in addition to the amounts set forth above.
   (h) This section shall become operative December 31, 2004.
  SEC. 3.  Section 13004.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   13004.1.  (a) No person shall manufacture or sell an
identification document of a size and form substantially similar to
the identification cards issued by the department.
   (b) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000)  , no part of which
shall be suspended, and the person shall be required to perform not
less than 24 hours of community service during hours when the person
is not employed and is not attending school   or
imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by
both that fine and imprisonment  .
  SEC. 4.  Section 14610.1 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   14610.1.  (a) No person shall manufacture or sell an
identification document of a size and form substantially similar to
the drivers' licenses issued by the department.
   (b) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a
fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000)  , no part of which
shall be suspended, and the person shall be required to perform not
less than 24 hours of community service during hours when the person
is not employed and is not attending school   or
imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or by
both that fine and imprisonment  .
  SEC. 5.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.