MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Lee

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 97-19-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE TIME PERIOD TO TENDER PAYMENT ON A BAD CHECK; TO AMEND SECTION 97-19-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT THERE IS NO WAITING PERIOD FOR BAD CHECKS DRAWN ON A CLOSED ACCOUNT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 97-19-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-19-57. (1) As against the maker or drawer thereof, the making, drawing, issuing, uttering or delivering of a check, draft or order, payment of which is refused by the drawee, shall be prima facie evidence and create a presumption of intent to defraud and of knowledge of insufficient funds in, or on deposit with, such bank, corporation, firm or person, provided such maker or drawer shall not have paid the holder thereof the amount due thereon, together with a service charge of Thirty Dollars ($30.00), within fifteen (15) days after receiving notice that such check, draft or order has not been paid by the drawee.

(2) For purposes of Section 11-7-12, the form of the notice provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall be sent by regular mail and shall be substantially as follows: "This statutory notice is provided pursuant to Section 97-19-57, Mississippi Code of 1972. You are hereby notified that a check, draft or order numbered _____, apparently issued by you on _____ (date), drawn upon _____ (name of bank), and payable to _____, has been dishonored. Pursuant to Mississippi law, you have fifteen (15) days from receipt of this notice to tender payment of the full amount of such check, draft or order, plus a service charge of Thirty Dollars ($30.00), the total amount due being $_____. Failure to pay this amount in full within the time specified above shall be prima facie evidence of and create a presumption of both the intent to defraud and the knowledge of insufficient funds in, or on deposit with, such bank in violation of Section 97-19-55."

(3) For purposes of Section 97-19-67, the form of the notice provided for in subsection (1) of this section shall be sent by certified or registered mail and shall be substantially as follows: "This statutory notice is provided pursuant to Section 97-19-57, Mississippi Code of 1972. You are hereby notified that a check, draft or order numbered _____, apparently issued by you on _____ (date), drawn upon _____ (name of bank), and payable to _____, has been dishonored. Pursuant to Mississippi law, you have fifteen (15) days from receipt of this notice to tender payment of the full amount of such check, draft or order, plus a service charge of Thirty Dollars ($30.00), the total amount due being $_____. Unless this amount is paid in full within the time specified above, the holder may assume that you delivered the instrument with intent to defraud and may turn over the dishonored instrument and all other available information relating to this incident to the proper authorities for criminal prosecution."

(4) If any notice is returned undelivered to the sender after such notice was mailed to the address printed on the check, draft or order, or to the address given by the accused at the time of issuance of the instrument, such return shall be prima facie evidence of the maker's or drawer's intent to defraud.

(5) Without in any way limiting the provisions of this section, this section shall apply to a draft for the payment of money given for a motor vehicle even if such payment is conditioned upon delivery of documents necessary for transfer of a valid title to the purchaser.

SECTION 2. Section 97-19-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

97-19-61. Such notice as is provided for in Section 97-19-57 is dispensed with: (a) in the event the situs of the drawee is not in the state of Mississippi; (b) if the drawer is not a resident of the state of Mississippi or has left the state of Mississippi at the time such check, draft or order is dishonored; or (c) if the drawer of such check, draft or order did not have an account with the drawee of such check, draft or order at the time the same was issued or dishonored, or payment of the check is denied because the account was closed at the time the check, draft or order was issued or dishonored.