Section 12531 Of Article 2. General Powers And Duties From California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 2.
12531
. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that California,
represented by the California Attorney General, entered a national
multistate settlement with the country's five largest loan servicers.
This agreement, the National Mortgage Settlement stemmed from
successful resolution of federal court action (Consent Judgment,
United States v. Bank of America (No. 1:12-cv-00361, Banzr. D.C. Apr.
4, 2012). The National Mortgage Settlement is broad ranging, with
California's share of this settlement estimated to be up to eighteen
billion dollars ($18,000,000,000). Of this amount, approximately four
hundred ten million dollars ($410,000,000) will come directly to the
state in costs, fees, and penalty payments.
(b) There is hereby created in the State Treasury the National
Mortgage Special Deposit Fund. Notwithstanding Section 13340, all
moneys in the fund are hereby continuously appropriated, and shall be
allocated by the Department of Finance.
(c) Direct payments made to the State of California as civil
penalties pursuant to the National Mortgage Settlement shall be
deposited in the Unfair Competition Law Fund as required by the
settlement.
(d) Direct payments made to the State of California pursuant to
the National Mortgage Settlement, except for those payments made
pursuant to subdivision (c), shall be deposited in the National
Mortgage Special Deposit Fund.
(e) Notwithstanding any other law, the Director of Finance may
allocate or otherwise use the funds in the National Mortgage Special
Deposit Fund to offset General Fund expenditures in the 2011-12,
2012-13, and 2013-14 fiscal years. The Department of Finance and the
Controller's office shall recognize this fiscal alignment accordingly
for the purpose of the state budget process and legal basis of
accounting.
(f) Not less than 30 days prior to allocating any moneys pursuant
to subdivision (e), the Department of Finance shall submit an
expenditure plan to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee detailing
the proposed use of the moneys in the National Mortgage Special
Deposit Fund.
(g) Notwithstanding any other law, the Controller may use the
funds in the National Mortgage Special Deposit Fund for cashflow
loans to the General Fund as provided in Sections 16310 and 16381.