Bill Text: CA SB298 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Enforcement of money judgments: exemptions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2018-08-30 - Motion to reconsider made by Assembly Member Weber. [SB298 Detail]

Download: California-2017-SB298-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Senate  May 09, 2017

Amended  IN  Senate  March 22, 2017

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 298

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Introduced by Senator Wieckowski

February 13, 2017

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An act to amend Section 703.520 of, and to add Section 704.220 to, the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil actions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 298, as amended, Wieckowski. Enforcement of money judgments: exemptions.

Existing law authorizes a judgment creditor to levy upon the property of a judgment debtor to satisfy a judgment, and authorizes the judgment debtor to claim that certain property is exempt from the levy by following a specified procedure. Existing law authorizes a claimant to assert an exemption by filing a claim of exemption with the levying officer within 10 days after the date the notice of levy on the property claimed to be exempt is served on the judgment debtor.

This bill would authorize a claimant to file a claim of exemption with the levying officer either in person or by mail. The bill would specify that the period for filing the claim is 15 days if the judgment debtor is personally served with a notice of levy on the property claimed to be exempt, and 20 days if the claimant is served with notice by mail. The bill would deem the filing by mail complete on the date the claim is postmarked if the mailing is assigned a tracking number. If the mailing is not assigned a tracking number, the bill would deem the filing by mail complete on the date the claim is received by the levying officer.

This bill would exempt from a levy money in a judgment debtor’s deposit account in an amount equal to or less than the greater of $4,800 or the state minimum wage multiplied by 320, unless the levy would satisfy a judgment for wages owed, child support, or spousal support judgment. support. The bill would require a levy against a judgment debtor’s deposit account to include a description of these requirements.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 703.520 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:

703.520.

 (a) The claimant may make a claim of exemption by filing with the levying officer, either in person or by mail, a claim of exemption together with a copy of the claim. If the claimant is personally served, the claim shall be made within 15 days after the date the notice of levy on the property claimed to be exempt is served on the judgment debtor. If the claimant is served by mail, the claim shall be made within 20 days after the date the notice of levy on the property claimed to be exempt is served on the judgment debtor. If the claim is filed by mail and assigned a tracking number by the United States Postal Service or another common carrier, the filing shall be deemed complete on the date the claim is postmarked. If the claim is filed by mail and not assigned a tracking number, the filing shall be deemed complete on the date the claim is received by the levying officer.

(b) The claim of exemption shall be executed under oath and shall include all of the following:

(1) The name of the claimant and the mailing address where service of a notice of opposition to the claim may be made upon the claimant.

(2) The name and last known address of the judgment debtor if the claimant is not the judgment debtor.

(3) A description of the property claimed to be exempt. If an exemption is claimed pursuant to Section 704.010 or 704.060, the claimant shall describe all other property of the same type, including exempt proceeds of property of the same type, owned by the judgment debtor alone or in combination with others on the date of levy and identify the property, whether or not levied upon, to which the exemption is to be applied. If an exemption is claimed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 704.100, the claimant shall state the nature and amount of all other property of the same type owned by the judgment debtor or the spouse of the judgment debtor alone or in combination with others on the date of levy.

(4) A financial statement if required by Section 703.530.

(5) A citation of the provision of this chapter or other statute upon which the claim is based.

(6) A statement of the facts necessary to support the claim.

SEC. 2.

 Section 704.220 is added to the Code of Civil Procedure, to read:

704.220.

 (a) Money in the judgment debtor’s deposit account in an amount equal to or less than the greater of four thousand eight hundred dollars ($4,800) or the state minimum wage multiplied by 320 is exempt without making a claim.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not preclude or reduce a judgment debtor’s right to any other exemption provided by state or federal law.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a levy to satisfy a judgment for wages owed, child support, or spousal support judgment. support.

(d) A levy against a judgment debtor’s deposit account shall include a written description of the requirements of this section.

(e) The exemption applies per debtor, not per account. If a judgment debtor holds an interest in multiple accounts, the judgment creditor or judgment debtor may file an ex parte application in the superior court in which the judgment was entered for a hearing to establish how and to which account the exemption should be applied.