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Introduced Version House Bill 4380 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 4380


(By Delegates Walters, Webster, Kessler,

Caputo, Delong, Fleischauer, Ellem,

Brown, Manchin, Shook and Hamilton)


[Introduced February 1, 2008; referred to the

Committee on the Banking and Insurance then the Judiciary.]



A BILL to amend and reenact §46A-6H-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring court approval for certain structured settlement transfers; enhancing protection for consumers; requiring appointment of guardian ad litem; payment of guardian ad litem, attorneys' fees and costs; required findings; and standard of proof.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §46A-6H-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 6H. TRANSFERS OF RIGHT TO RECEIVE FUTURE PAYMENTS.
§46A-6H-3. Requirement of court approval for certain structured settlement transfers.

(a) In addition to the other requirements of set forth in this article, the all transfer agreement shall agreements must be approved by the circuit court of the county wherein the consumer resides or where the structured settlement agreement was executed. when:
(1) The structured settlement payment rights belong to an infant or an incompetent person; or
(2) The structured settlement payment rights arise from a personal injury or other claim and:
(i) The aggregate of the structured settlement payment rights exceeds forty thousand dollars; or
(ii) The structured settlement agreement contains a provision restricting the right of the consumer to assign or transfer the consumer's future payment rights
(b) The transferee shall commence the action by filing a petition with the court seeking approval of the transfer and providing to the court the disclosure statement required by subsection (a), section two of this article.
(c) The circuit court shall set a time and date for a hearing on the matter within twenty-one days of the date of the filing of the petition. The transferee shall notify the consumer and all interested parties of the date and time of the hearing and provide them with a copy of the petition.
(d) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the consumer in all cases. where the structured settlement payment rights belong to an infant, an incompetent person or a ward of the court The guardian ad litem shall review the requisite disclosures and make an independent inquiry to determine whether the proposed transfer is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the consumer and any dependents of the consumer as well and determining if transfer has been attempted or accomplished before. Such The information shall be reported to the court during the hearing on the matter.
(e) An interested party has the right to appear and contest the proposed transfer at the time of the hearing. If, after proper notice, the interested party does not make an appearance, then the interested party shall be bound by the court's ruling.
(f) After a hearing or upon its own motion, the court may approve the transfer if the court finds that:
(1) The consumer is mentally competent to make the decisions related to the proposed transfer and is not addicted to any controlled substance or alcohol;
(1) (2) The consumer has demonstrated presented clear and convincing evidence that: (A) He or she, or his or her family parents or dependents, is facing a financial hardship that the transfer would alleviate and that the transfer would not subject the consumer or the consumer's family parents or dependents to undue financial hardship in the future; or and (B) the transfer is in the best interest of the consumer: Provided, That the judge shall disclose the inquire of the guardian ad litem and the transferee as to possible adverse tax consequence to the consumer and inform the consumer of the result of said inquiry;
(2) (3) The transferee is in compliance with the provisions of section two of this article; and
(3) (4) The transfer agreement does not contravene the terms of the structured settlement agreement, including any restrictions on the right of the consumer to transfer his or her structured settlement payment rights, unless the annuity issuer and structured settlement obligor have consented to the transfer. However, the approval of the annuity issuer and the structured settlement obligor shall not be required if, at the time the consumer and the transferee entered into the transfer agreement, a favorable tax determination was in effect; and
(5) The discount rate stated in terms of an annual percentage rate disclosed in writing to the consumer pursuant to subdivision (4), section two of this article, used to calculate the present value of the future payments to be transferred by the consumer, may not exceed the current average annual percentage rate of interest upon twenty year residential mortgages offered in this state, as determined by the banking commissioner.
(g) The court shall award the guardian ad litem reasonable fees for representing the consumer. Such Attorneys' fees and costs shall be paid by the transferee.
(h) A consumer may request court approval for a transfer that does not mandate court approval under this section. Such voluntary petition by the consumer shall then become subject to the provisions of this section. The transferee shall be responsible for filing the action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and the consumer shall be responsible for attorney's fees or guardian ad litem fees.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase protection to beneficiaries of structured settlements as they relate to settlement transfers.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
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