Bill Text: WV HB2725 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expanding the powers of the magistrate to prosecute for worthless checks beyond the strict limitations of NSF
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-11 - To House Banking and Insurance [HB2725 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-HB2725-Introduced.html
H. B. 2725
(By Delegates Hamilton and Canterbury)
[Introduced January 11, 2012; referred to the
Committee on Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §61-3-39c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to dishonor of checks presented for payment.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §61-3-39c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.
§61-3-39c. Reason for dishonor; duty of drawee.
It shall be the duty of the drawee of any check, draft or order, before refusing to pay the same to the holder thereof upon presentation, to cause to be written, printed or stamped in plain language thereon or attached thereto, the reason for drawee's dishonor or refusal to pay same. Reasons for dishonor or refusal to pay same shall include: Nonsufficient funds, (NSF) closed account, account closed, no account, no account on file, refer to maker, or any other reason in plain language indicating that sufficient funds were not available to satisfy payment at the time the check was presented to drawee from payee. In all prosecutions under section thirty-nine or thirty-nine-a of this article, the introduction in evidence of any unpaid and dishonored check, draft or other written order, having the drawee's refusal to pay stamped or written thereon, or attached thereto, with the reason therefor as aforesaid: reasons stated:
(a) Shall be prima facie evidence of the making or uttering of said check, draft or other written order, and the due presentation to the drawee for payment and the its dishonor thereof, and that the same was properly dishonored for the reasons written, stamped or attached by the drawee on such dishonored checks, drafts or orders; and
(b) Shall be prima facie evidence, as against the maker or drawer thereof, of the withdrawing from deposit with the drawee named in the check, draft or other written order, of the funds on deposit with such drawee necessary to insure payment of said check, draft or other written order upon presentation within a reasonable time after negotiation; and
(c) Shall be prima facie evidence of the drawing, making, uttering or delivering of a check, draft or written order with the knowledge of insufficient funds in or credit with such drawee.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to expand the powers of the magistrate to prosecute for worthless checks beyond the strict limitations of NSF.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.