LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 6Ch. 6§ 5500 Public Security Definitions

§ 5500 Public Security Definitions

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5500 Public Security Definitions

Key Takeaways

  • •Public security is like an IOU from the government or a city, promising to pay money back.
  • •Instrument of payment is anything used to pay or move money, like a check.
  • •Only certain people (authorized officers) can sign these money papers, or their trusted helpers.
  • •A facsimile signature is like a stamp or copy of a real signature, not the real one.

Example

Your city needs money to build a new park, so they sell special papers (bonds) promising to pay the money back later.

These papers are called 'public security.' The mayor (an authorized officer) signs them, but sometimes they use a stamp of her signature (facsimile signature) instead of signing each one by hand. People buy these papers to help pay for the park.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5500 Public Security Definitions

As used in this chapter: (a) “Public security” means a bond, note, certificate of indebtedness, or other obligation for the payment of money, issued by any county, city, or public district. (b) “Instrument of payment” means a check, draft, warrant, or order for the payment, delivery, or transfer of funds. (c) “Authorized officer” means any official of this State or any of its departments, agencies, or other instrumentalities, or any county, city, or public district whose signature to a public security or instrument of payment is required or permitted, or any deputy of such official who has been authorized by such official in writing to affix the official’s signature. (d) “Facsimile signature” means the reproduction by engraving, imprinting, stamping, or other means of the manual signature of an authorized officer. (Added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 1061.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

public securityinstrument of paymentauthorized officerfacsimile signatureobligationsecuritiesreproduction

Related Statutes

  • § 15847 Public Funds Investment Authority
  • § 5051 Public Obligation Definitions
  • § 12650 False Claims Act
  • § 12659 Attorney General Securities Investigations
  • § 27291 Financing Statement Recording Option

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 5500.
View Official Source