(a) Money in the judgment debtor‘s deposit account in an amount equal to or less than the minimum basic standard of adequate care for a family of four for Region 1, established by § 11452 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and as annually adjusted by the State Department of Social Services pursuant to § 11453 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, is exempt without making a claim.

(b) (1) Subdivision (a) does not preclude or reduce a judgment debtor’s right to any other exemption provided by state or federal law.

(2) If the financial institution holding the judgment debtor’s deposit account has actual knowledge that the judgment debtor is entitled to one or more exemptions that the financial institution is required to apply pursuant to federal law or state law other than that set forth in subdivision (a), the following shall apply:

(A) If the sum of the amount of money in the deposit account that would be exempt from levy under the additional exemptions is less than or equal to the amount set forth in subdivision (a), the additional exemptions described in this paragraph shall be considered encompassed within the exemption set forth in subdivision (a) and subdivision (a) shall apply.

(B) If the sum of the amount of money in the deposit account that would be exempt from levy under the additional exemptions is greater than the amount set forth in subdivision (a), subdivision (a) shall not apply and instead money in the deposit account equal to or less than the sum of the additional exemptions is exempt without making a claim.

(c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to money levied upon to satisfy any of the following:

(1) A levy to satisfy a judgment for wages owed, child support, or spousal support. For purposes of this paragraph, “wages owed” includes damages and penalties.

(2) A provision of the Public Resources Code, Revenue and Taxation Code, or Unemployment Insurance Code.

(3) A warrant or notice of levy issued by the state, or any department or agency thereof, for the collection of a liability.

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

(e) (1) The exemption applies per debtor, not per account.

(2) If a judgment debtor holds an interest in multiple accounts at a single financial institution, 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. Subject to a service of an order issued in that hearing, if any, the financial institution may determine how and to which account the exemption should be applied. This paragraph does not create a cause of action against a judgment creditor who executes a levy or against a financial institution that complies with a levy pursuant to the court’s determination.

(3) If a judgment debtor holds an interest in multiple accounts at two or more financial institutions, the judgment creditor shall, and the 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. Subject to a service of an order issued in that hearing, if any, the financial institutions shall comply with the levy subject to the exemption. This paragraph does not create a cause of action against a judgment creditor who executes a levy or against a financial institution which complies with a levy pursuant to the court’s determination.

(f) Subdivision (e) of Section 700.140 applies to a financial institution acting under this section.

(g) The Judicial Council shall amend or adopt all forms necessary to implement this section. The forms shall clearly delineate the amount of funds exempt from levy by a financial institution, including funds exempted by this section.

(h) This section shall become operative on September 1, 2020.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 552, Sec. 8. (SB 616) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative September 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)