Senator Wieckowski, consumer groups herald new law preventing debt collectors from emptying people's bank accounts
August 25, 2020
SACRAMENTO – Beginning next Tuesday, Californians taking on more debt through the COVID-19 pandemic, high unemployment and wildfires, will gain some added financial security when a law authored by Sen. Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and supported by consumer groups and legal aid providers goes into effect.
Senate Bill 616 was approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2019. The law creates an automatic bank account exemption to prevent debt collectors from seizing the last $1,788 in a person’s account.
Legislators, consumer groups to hold press conference highlighting law preventing debt collectors from emptying accounts
August 24, 2020
SACRAMENTO – Help is on the way for Californians in debt who are seeking to protect the last of their meager savings, as a new law barring collectors from zeroing out a debtor’s account goes into effect on September 1.
SB 908 increases oversight of industry as more Californians take on debt during Covid-19 pandemic
August 12, 2020
SACRAMENTO – A bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to require the licensing of debt collectors and debt buyers in California moved one step closer to becoming law when it was approved today by the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee. SB 908 now advances to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It has already passed the Senate.
FREMONT – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) released the following statement on the passing of Donna Olsen, a Fremont community activist and founder of the Tri-City Ecology Center. She died yesterday morning at the age of 88.
SACRAMENTO – With more Californians living paycheck-to-paycheck and taking on more debt to cover their bills, the California State Senate today approved with bipartisan support SB 908 by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to require the licensing of debt collectors and debt buyers in California. The bill is supported by a number of California’s top consumer organizations.
SACRAMENTO – With strong bipartisan support, today the California State Senate approved a bill by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to protect Golden State Scholarshare 529 college savings plans from being seized by creditors in bankruptcy cases.
SACRAMENTO – As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on the personal finances of California families, a new state proposal authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski and sponsored by California Treasurer Fiona Ma would exempt higher education 529 Scholarshare accounts from creditors in bankruptcy cases. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 898 earlier today.
SACRAMENTO– Taking a step to provide increased oversight of the debt collection industry, the California Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee today approved Senate Bill 908, authored by Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont), to require debt collectors and buyers to obtain a license in order to collect on debts in California.
Due to necessary safety precautions mandated by the State of California concerning COVID-19, we regret to announce that we are cancelling the Free Tax Assistance Workshop, slated for Thursday, March 19th. In addition to providing assistance in filing personal income taxes, the event would have also highlighted the state's California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC), designed to put more money in the pockets of low-income working families. Roughly 50,000 families in Alameda and Santa Clara counties will be eligible for the income tax credit.
