AN ACT Relating to banking; adding new sections to chapter 30.16 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 31.12 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 32.04 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 33.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 46.20 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 30.16 RCW to read as follows:

Every bank and trust company doing business in this state shall honor and cash a check presented by a pensioner or retiree, regardless of whether the person has an account in that institution, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The pensioner or retiree is a resident of the state;

(2) The pensioner or retiree provides adequate information for identification purposes and is registered with the institution; and

(3) Any such check has been issued to the pensioner or retiree presenting the check as a social security, supplemental security income, supplemental security income for the aged, blind, and disabled, or retirement benefit by the federal government or any agency thereof, or by the state or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 30.16 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the identicards established under section 9 of this act, the supervisor shall establish a procedure to be employed by any bank or trust company to enable pensioners or retirees to register for the purpose of having such checks cashed. The procedure shall require, but need not be limited to the following:

(a) Every bank or trust company shall provide, in its main office and any branch thereof, for the registration of any pensioner or retiree requesting registration by means of an application card containing the application date and the name, address, date of birth, social security number, and handwritten signature of the applicant, as well as any other information the supervisor finds necessary, or by any other method and under such conditions as the supervisor may approve;

(b) Every bank and trust company may verify information required to be submitted to effect registration;

(c) Upon verification, which shall be completed within thirty days of the receipt of the application, the applicant pensioner or retiree shall be so registered and shall be provided by the bank or trust company with an identification card, in such form as the supervisor may approve, entitling the applicant to check cashing privileges;

(d) The presentation of any such check for cashing shall be restricted to the office or branch of any bank or trust company in which the registration of the pensioner or retiree was effected;

(e) Every bank or trust company may assess a charge for processing and issuing identification cards in an amount equal to the actual cost incurred as determined by the supervisor to be fair and equitable, and no other charge may be assessed for check cashing purposes.

(2) Any bank or trust company that fails to cash any such check of a pensioner or retiree registered in accordance with section 1 of this act or this section or that otherwise violates section 1 of this act or this section or rules adopted under them shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for each violation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 31.12 RCW to read as follows:

Every credit union doing business in this state shall honor and cash a check presented by a pensioner or retiree, regardless of whether the person has an account in that institution, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The pensioner or retiree is a resident of the state;

(2) The pensioner or retiree provides adequate information for identification purposes and is registered with the institution; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 31.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the identicards established under section 9 of this act, the supervisor shall establish a procedure to be employed by any credit union to enable pensioners or retirees to register for the purpose of having such checks cashed. The procedure shall require, but need not be limited to the following:

(a) Every credit union shall provide, in its main office and any branch thereof, for the registration of any pensioner or retiree requesting registration by means of an application card containing the application date and the name, address, date of birth, social security number, and handwritten signature of the applicant, as well as any other information the supervisor finds necessary, or by any other method and under such conditions as the supervisor may approve;

(b) Every credit union may verify information required to be submitted to effect registration;

(c) Upon verification, which shall be completed within thirty days of the receipt of the application, the applicant pensioner or retiree shall be so registered and shall be provided by the credit union with an identification card, in such form as the supervisor may approve, entitling the applicant to check cashing privileges;

(d) The presentation of any such check for cashing shall be restricted to the office or branch of any credit union in which the registration of the pensioner or retiree was effected;

(e) Every credit union may assess a charge for processing and issuing identification cards in an amount equal to the actual cost incurred as determined by the supervisor to be fair and equitable, and no other charge may be assessed for such check cashing purposes.

(2) Any credit union that fails to cash any such check of a pensioner or retiree registered in accordance with section 3 of this act or this section or that otherwise violates section 3 of this act or this section or rules adopted under them shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for each violation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 32.04 RCW to read as follows:

Every mutual savings bank doing business in this state shall honor and cash a check presented by a pensioner or retiree, regardless of whether the person has an account in that institution, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The pensioner or retiree is a resident of the state;

(2) The pensioner or retiree provides adequate information for identification purposes and is registered with the institution; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 32.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the identicards established under section 9 of this act, the supervisor shall establish a procedure to be employed by any mutual savings bank to enable pensioners or retirees to register for the purpose of having such checks cashed. The procedure shall require, but need not be limited to the following:

(a) Every mutual savings bank shall provide, in its main office and any branch thereof, for the registration of any pensioner or retiree requesting registration by means of an application card containing the application date and the name, address, date of birth, social security number, and handwritten signature of the applicant, as well as any other information the supervisor finds necessary, or by any other method and under such conditions as the supervisor may approve;

(b) Every mutual savings bank may verify information required to be submitted to effect registration;

(c) Upon verification, which shall be completed within thirty days of the receipt of the application, the applicant pensioner or retiree shall be so registered and shall be provided by the mutual savings bank with an identification card, in such form as the supervisor may approve, entitling the applicant to such check cashing privileges;

(d) The presentation of any such check for cashing shall be restricted to the office or branch of any mutual savings bank in which the registration of the pensioner or retiree was effected;

(e) Every mutual savings bank may assess a charge for processing and issuing identification cards in an amount equal to the actual cost incurred as determined by the supervisor to be fair and equitable, and no other charge may be assessed for such check cashing purposes.

(2) Any mutual savings bank that fails to cash any such check of a pensioner or retiree registered in accordance with section 5 of this act or this section or that otherwise violates section 5 of this act or this section or rules adopted under them shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for each violation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 33.04 RCW to read as follows:

Every savings and loan association doing business in this state shall honor and cash a check presented by a pensioner or retiree, regardless of whether the person has an account in that institution, if the following conditions are met:

(1) The pensioner or retiree is a resident of the state;

(2) The pensioner or retiree provides adequate information for identification purposes and is registered with the institution; and

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 33.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) In addition to the identicards established under section 9 of this act, the supervisor shall establish a procedure to be employed by any savings and loan association to enable pensioners or retirees to register for the purpose of having such checks cashed. The procedure shall require, but need not be limited to the following:

(a) Every savings and loan association shall provide, in its main office and any branch thereof, for the registration of any pensioner or retiree requesting registration by means of an application card containing the application date and the name, address, date of birth, social security number, and handwritten signature of the applicant, as well as any other information the supervisor finds necessary, or by any other method and under such conditions as the supervisor may approve;

(b) Every savings and loan association may verify information required to be submitted to effect registration;

(c) Upon verification, which shall be completed within thirty days of the receipt of the application, the applicant pensioner or retiree shall be so registered and shall be provided by the savings and loan association with an identification card, in such form as the supervisor may approve, entitling the applicant to such check cashing privileges;

(d) The presentation of any such check for cashing shall be restricted to the office or branch of any savings and loan association in which the registration of the pensioner or retiree was effected;

(e) Every savings and loan association may assess a charge for processing and issuing identification cards in an amount equal to the actual cost incurred as determined by the supervisor to be fair and equitable, and no other charge may be assessed for such check cashing purposes.

(2) Any savings and loan association that fails to cash any such check of a pensioner or retiree registered in accordance with section 7 of this act or this section or that otherwise violates section 7 of this act or this section or rules adopted under them shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars for each such violation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 46.20 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to the use of identicards prescribed under RCW 46.20.185, identicards may also be used to establish proof of identity for purposes of the presentment of checks and other negotiable instruments.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.