Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1819 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 03/18/2024

                     
 
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ENGROSSED SENATE 
BILL NO. 1819 	By: Hall of the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Lepak of the House 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to banking; creating the Uniform 
Special Deposits Act; providing short title; defining 
terms; providing scope of act; allowing for 
agreements to be amen ded under certain circumstances; 
specifying what makes a special deposit; permitting 
termination of accounts under certain circumstances; 
providing conditions under which a bank may 
distribute funds to a beneficiary; specifying deposit 
interests; requiring certain conditions for creditor 
process; allowing relief; providing conditions for 
recoupment by a bank; specifying fiduciary duties of 
bank under this act; setting time frame and 
provisions for termination of accounts; permitting 
uniformity of implementation of act by law; providing 
for codification; and providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910 of Title 6, unless there is 
created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Uniform Special 
Deposits Act”. 
SECTION 2.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.1 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:   
 
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As used in this act: 
1.  “Account agreement” means an agreement that: 
a. is in a record between a bank and one or more 
depositors, 
b. may have one or more beneficiaries as additional 
parties, and 
c. states the intention of the parties to establish a 
special deposit pursuant to this act; 
2.  “Bank” means a person engaged in the business of banking 
including, but not limited to, a savings bank, savi ngs and loan 
association, credit union, trust company, or bank as defined in 
Section 102 of Title 6 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  Each branch or 
separate office of a bank is a separate bank for the purpose of this 
act; 
3.  “Beneficiary” means a person that: 
a. is identified as a beneficiary in an account 
agreement, or 
b. if not identified as a beneficiary in an account 
agreement, may be entitled to payment from a special 
deposit: 
(1) under the account agreement, or 
(2) on termination of the special deposit;   
 
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4. “Contingency” means an event or circumstance state d in an 
account agreement th at is not certain to occur but shall occur 
before the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary; 
5.  “Creditor process” means attachment, garnishment, levy, 
notice of lien, seques tration, or a similar process issued by or on 
behalf of a creditor or other claimant; 
6.  “Depositor” means a person that establishes or funds a 
special deposit; 
7.  “Good faith” means honesty in fact and observance of 
reasonable commercial standards of fa ir dealing; 
8.  “Knowledge of a fact” means: 
a. with respect to a beneficiary, a ctual knowledge of the 
fact, or 
b. with respect to a bank holding a special deposit: 
(1) if the bank: 
(a) has established a reasonable routine for 
communicating material inform ation to an 
individual to whom the bank has assigned 
responsibility for the special deposit, and 
(b) maintains reasonable compliance with the 
routine, actual knowledge of the fact by 
that individual, or 
(2) if the bank has not established and maintained 
reasonable compliance with a routine described in   
 
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division (1) of this subparagrap h or otherwise 
exercised due diligence, implied knowledge of the 
fact that would have come to the attention of an 
individual to whom the bank has assigned 
responsibility for th e special deposit; 
9.  “Obligated to pay a beneficiary ” means a beneficiary is 
entitled under the account agreement to receive from the bank a 
payment when: 
a. a contingency has occurred, and 
b. the bank has knowledge the contingency has occurred. 
An “obligation to pay a beneficiary ” shall mean the same; 
10.  “Permissible purpose” means a governmental, regulatory, 
commercial, charitable, or testamentary objective of the parties 
stated in an account agreement.  The term includes an objective to: 
a. hold funds: 
(1) in escrow, including for a purchase and sale, 
lease, buyback, or other transaction, 
(2) as a security deposit of a tenant, 
(3) that may be distributed to a person a s 
remuneration, retirement, or other benefit, or 
compensation under a judgment, conse nt decree, 
court order, or other decision of a tribunal, or   
 
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(4) for distribution to a defined class of persons 
after identification of the class members and 
their interest in the funds, 
b. provide assurance with respect to an obligation 
created by contract, such as earnest money to ensure a 
transaction closes, 
c. settle an obligation that arises in the operation of a 
payment system, securities settlement system, or other 
financial market infrastructure, 
d. provide assurance with respect to an obligation tha t 
arises in the operation of a payment system, 
securities settlement system, or other financial 
market infrastructure, or 
e. hold margin, other cash collateral, or funds that 
support the orderly functioning of financial market 
infrastructure or the perform ance of an obligation 
with respect to the infrastructure; 
11.  “Person” means an individual, estate, business, or 
nonprofit entity, government or governmental subdivision, agency, or 
instrumentality, or other legal entity.  The term may include a 
protected series, however denominated, of an entity if the protected 
series is establishe d under law that limits, or limits if conditions 
specified under law are satisfied, the ability of a creditor of the   
 
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entity or of any other protected series of the entity to sa tisfy a 
claim from assets of the protected series; 
12.  “Record” means information: 
a. inscribed on a tangible medium, or 
b. stored in an electronic or other medium and 
retrievable in perceivable form; 
13.  “Special deposit” means a deposit as specified in Section 5 
of this act; and 
14.  “State” means a state of the United States, the District of 
Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or any other 
territory or possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United 
States, including an agency or instrumentality of the state. 
SECTION 3.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.2 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  This act shall apply to a special deposit under an account 
agreement that states the intention of the pa rties to establish a 
special deposit governed by this act, regardless of whether a party 
to the account agreement or a transaction related to the special 
deposit, or the specia l deposit itself, has a reasonable relation to 
this state. 
B.  The parties to an account agreement may choose a forum in 
this state for settling a dispute arising out of the special 
deposit, regardless of whether a party to the account agreement or a   
 
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transaction related to the special deposit, or the special deposit 
itself, has a reasonable relation to this state. 
C.  This shall not affect: 
1.  A right or obligation relating to a deposit other than a 
special deposit under this act; or 
2.  The voidability of a deposit or transfer that is fraudulent 
or voidable under other law. 
SECTION 4.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.3 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  The effect of Sections 2 through 6, 8 through 11, and 
Section 13 of this act may not be varied by agreement, except as 
provided in those sections.  Subject to subsection B of this 
section, the effects of Sections 7, 12, and 13 of this act may be 
varied by agreement. 
B.  A provision in an account agreement or other record that 
substantially excuses liability or substantially limits remedies for 
failure to perform an obligation under this act is not sufficient to 
vary the effect of a pro vision of this act. 
C.  If a beneficiary is a party to an account agreement, the 
bank and the depositor may amend the agreement without the consent 
of the beneficiary only if the agreement expressly permits the 
amendment.   
 
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D.  If a beneficiary is not a part y to an agreement and the bank 
and the depositor know the beneficiary has knowledge of the 
agreement’s terms, the bank and the depositor may amend the 
agreement without the consent of the beneficiary only if the 
amendment does not adversely and materially affect a payment right 
of the beneficiary. 
E.  If a beneficiary is not a party t o an account agreement and 
the bank and the depositor do not know whether the beneficiary has 
knowledge of the agreement ’s terms, the bank and the depositor may 
amend the agreement without the consent of the beneficiary only if 
the amendment is made in good faith. 
SECTION 5.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.4 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplicat ion in numbering, reads as follows: 
A deposit is a special deposit if it is: 
1.  A deposit of funds in a bank under an account agreement; 
2.  For the benefit of at least two (2) beneficiaries, one or 
more of whom may be a depositor; 
3.  Denominated in a me dium of exchange that is currently 
authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government; 
4.  For a permissible purpose stated in the account agreement; 
and 
5.  Subject to a contingency.   
 
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SECTION 6.     NEW LAW     A new section of law t o be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.5 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  A special deposit shall serve at least one permissible 
purpose stated in the account agreement from the time the s pecial 
deposit is created in the account agreement until termination of the 
special deposit. 
B.  If, before termination of a special deposit, the bank or a 
court determined the special deposit no longer satisfies subsection 
A of this section, Sections 8 th rough 11 of this act cease to apply 
to any funds deposited in the special deposi t after the special 
deposit ceases to satisfy subsection A of this section. 
C.  If, before termination of a special deposit, the bank 
determines the special deposit no longer satisfies subsection A of 
this section, the bank may take action i t believes is necessary 
under the circumstances, including terminating the special deposit. 
SECTION 7.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Stat utes as Section 910.6 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbe ring, reads as follows: 
A.  Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the bank is 
obligated to pay a beneficiary if there are sufficient actually and 
finally collected funds in the balance of the special deposit.   
 
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B.  Except as provided in subsection C of this section, the 
obligation to pay the beneficiary is excused if the funds available 
in the special deposit are insufficient to cover such payment. 
C.  Unless the accoun t agreement provides otherwise, if the 
funds available in the special deposit ar e insufficient to cover an 
obligation to pay a beneficiary, a beneficiary may elect to be paid 
the funds that are available or, if there is more than one 
beneficiary, a pro rat a share of the funds available.  Payment to 
the beneficiary making the election under this subsection discharges 
the bank’s obligation to pay a beneficiary and does not constitute 
an accord and satisfaction with respect to another person obligated 
to the beneficiary. 
D.  Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the 
obligation of the bank obligated to pay a beneficiary is immediately 
due and payable. 
E.  The bank may discharge its obligation under this section by: 
1.  Crediting another transaction ac count of the beneficiary; or 
2.  Taking other action that: 
a. is permitted under the account agreement for the bank 
to obtain a discharge, or 
b. otherwise would constitute a discharge under law. 
F.  If the bank obligated to pay a beneficiary has incurred a n 
obligation to discharge that obligation of another person, the 
obligation of the other person is discharged if action by the bank   
 
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under subsection E of this section would constitute a discharge of 
the obligation of the other person under law that determi ned whether 
an obligation is satisfied. 
SECTION 8.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.7 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Neither a depositor nor a beneficiary has a property 
interest in a special deposit. 
B.  Any property interest with respect to a special deposit is 
only in the right to receive payment if the bank is obligated to pay 
a beneficiary and not in the special deposit itse lf.  Any property 
interest under this subsection is determined under other law. 
SECTION 9.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.8 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in nu mbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Subject to subsection B of this section, creditor process 
with respect to a special deposit is not enforceable against the 
bank holding the special deposit. 
B.  Creditor process is enforceable against the bank holding a 
special deposit with respect to an amount the bank is obligated to 
pay a beneficiary or a depositor if the process: 
1.  Is served on the bank;   
 
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2.  Provides sufficient information to permit the bank to 
identify the depositor or the beneficiary from the bank ’s book and 
records; and 
3.  Gives the bank a reasonable opportunity to act on the 
process. 
C.  Creditor process served on a bank before it is enforceable 
against the bank under subsection B of this section does not create 
a right of the creditor against the ba nk or a duty of the bank to 
the creditor.  Other law determines whether creditor process creates 
a lien enforceable against the beneficiary on a contingent interest 
of a beneficiary, including a depositor as a beneficiary, even if 
not enforceable against t he bank. 
SECTION 10.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be c odified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.9 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A court may enjoin, or grant similar relief that would have the 
effect of enjoining, a bank from paying a depositor or beneficiary 
only if payment would constitute a material fraud or facilitate a 
material fraud with respect to a special deposit. 
SECTION 11.     NEW LAW     A new sect ion of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.10 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:   
 
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A.  Except as provided in subsection B or C of this section, a 
bank may not exercise a right of recoupmen t or set off against a 
special deposit. 
B.  An account agreement may authorize the bank to debit the 
special deposit: 
1.  When the bank becomes obligated to pay a beneficiary, in an 
amount that does not exceed the amount necessary to discharge the 
obligation; 
2.  For a fee assessed by the bank that relates to an overdraft 
in the special deposit; 
3.  For costs incurred by the bank that relate directly to the 
special deposit; or 
4.  To reverse an earlier credit posted by the bank to the 
balance of the special deposit, if the reversal occurs under an 
event or circumstance warranted under other law of this s tate 
governing mistake and restitution. 
C.  The bank holding a special deposit may exercise a right of 
recoupment or set off against an obligation to pay a b eneficiary, 
even if the bank funds payment from the special deposit. 
SECTION 12.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.11 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, r eads as follows: 
A.  A bank does not have a fiduciary duty to any person with 
respect to a special deposit.   
 
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B.  When the bank holding a special deposit becomes obligated to 
pay a beneficiary, a debtor -creditor relationship arises between the 
bank and beneficiary. 
C.  The bank holding a special deposit has a duty to a 
beneficiary to comply with the account agreement and this act. 
D.  If the bank holding a special deposit does not comply with 
the account agreement or this act, the bank is liable to a deposito r 
or beneficiary only for damages proximately caused by the 
noncompliance.  Except as provided by other law of this state, the 
bank is not liable for consequential, special, or punitive damages. 
E.  The bank holding a special deposit may rely on records 
presented in compliance with the account agreement to determine 
whether the bank is obligated to pay a beneficiary. 
F.  If the account agreement requires payment on presentation of 
a record, the bank shall determine within a reasonable amount of 
time whether the record is sufficient to require payment.  If the 
agreement requires action by the bank on presentation of a record, 
the bank is not liable for relying in good faith on the genuineness 
of the record if the record appears on its face to be genuine. 
G.  Unless the account agreement provides otherwise, the bank is 
not required to determine whether a permissible purpose stated in 
the agreement continues to exist.   
 
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SECTION 13.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.12 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
A.  Unless otherwise provided in the account agreement, a 
special deposit terminates five (5) years after the date the special 
deposit was first fu nded. 
B.  Unless otherwise provided in the account agreement, if the 
bank cannot identify or locate a beneficiary entitled to payment 
when the special deposit is terminated, and a balance remains in the 
special deposit, the bank shall pay the balance to th e depositor or 
depositors as a beneficiary or beneficiaries. 
C.  A bank that pays the remaining balance as provided under 
subsection B of this section has no further obligation with respect 
to the special deposit. 
SECTION 14.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.13 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: 
Title 12A of the Oklahoma Statutes, consumer protection law, law 
governing deposits generally, law related to escheat and abandoned 
or unclaimed property, and the principles of law and equity, 
including law related to capacity to contract, principle and agent, 
estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, and 
bankruptcy, supplement this act except to the extent inconsistent 
with this act.   
 
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SECTION 15.     NEW LAW     A new section of law to be codified 
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 910.14 of Title 6, unless there 
is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fo llows: 
In applying and construing this uniform act, a court shall 
consider the promotion of uniformity of the law among jurisdictions 
that enact it. 
SECTION 16.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2024. 
Passed the Senate the 1 4th day of March, 2024. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
Passed the House of Rep resentatives the ____ day of __________, 
2024. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives