AB 905: Money judgments of other jurisdictions.

Existing law establishes procedures for California courts to recognize money judgments of courts from other states, foreign countries, and tribal courts.

This bill would revise and recast these provisions.

Existing law, the Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act, requires a California court to recognize a foreign-country judgment unless a specified exception applies, including instances in which the foreign court lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendant.

This bill would specify that a foreign court lacks personal jurisdiction over a defendant if the court lacks personal jurisdiction under its own laws or Californias laws.

Existing law, the Tribal Court Civil Money Judgment Act, provides for the enforceability of tribal court money judgments in California, except as specified. That act, among other things, prescribes the procedure for applying for recognition and entry of a judgment based on a tribal court money judgment, and requires this application to be executed under penalty of perjury. The act provides that it will remain in effect until January 1, 2018. After that date, tribal court money judgments will be governed by the above-described Uniform Foreign-Country Money Judgments Recognition Act.

This bill would eliminate the Tribal Court Civil Money Judgment Acts sunset date. By extending the provisions of the act, this bill would expand the scope of the crime of perjury and thus impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.