(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), if chattel paper is evidenced only by an authoritative electronic copy of the chattel paper or is evidenced by an authoritative electronic copy and an authoritative tangible copy, the local law of the chattel paper’s jurisdiction governs perfection, the effect of perfection or nonperfection, and the priority of a security interest in the chattel paper, even if the transaction does not bear any relation to the chattel paper’s jurisdiction.

(b) The following rules determine the chattel paper’s jurisdiction under this section:

Terms Used In California Commercial Code 9306.1

  • Electronic: means relating to technology having electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Record: means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. See California Commercial Code 1201
  • Security interest: includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of accounts, chattel paper, a payment intangible, or a promissory note in a transaction that is subject to Division 9 (commencing with Section 9101). See California Commercial Code 1201

(1) If the authoritative electronic copy of the record evidencing chattel paper, or a record attached to or logically associated with the electronic copy and readily available for review, expressly provides that a particular jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction for purposes of this chapter, division, or code, that jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction.

(2) If paragraph (1) does not apply and the rules of the system in which the authoritative electronic copy is recorded are readily available for review and expressly provide that a particular jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction for purposes of this chapter, this division, or this code, that jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction.

(3) If paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply and the authoritative electronic copy, or a record attached to or logically associated with the electronic copy and readily available for review, expressly provides that the chattel paper is governed by the law of a particular jurisdiction, that jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction.

(4) If paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, do not apply and the rules of the system in which the authoritative electronic copy is recorded are readily available for review and expressly provide that the chattel paper or the system is governed by the law of a particular jurisdiction, that jurisdiction is the chattel paper’s jurisdiction.

(5) If paragraphs (1) to (4), inclusive, do not apply, the chattel paper’s jurisdiction is the jurisdiction in which the debtor is located.

(c) If an authoritative tangible copy of a record evidences chattel paper and the chattel paper is not evidenced by an authoritative electronic copy, while the authoritative tangible copy of the record evidencing chattel paper is located in a jurisdiction, the local law of that jurisdiction governs both of the following:

(1) Perfection of a security interest in the chattel paper by possession under Section 9314.1.

(2) The effect of perfection or nonperfection and the priority of a security interest in the chattel paper.

(d) The local law of the jurisdiction in which the debtor is located governs perfection of a security interest in chattel paper by filing.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 210, Sec. 39. (SB 95) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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