A bill is pending in the Massachusetts State legislature that will greatly change the present regulations controlling your checking accounts at banks. The bill, House 286, will do the following:

• "Truncate" the check clearing process and allow the banks to no longer return the cancelled checks to you with your monthly bank statement 
• Only require the banks to identify each transaction with the number of the check, the date it was presented at the bank and the amount of the check. (This is the present way a bank statement reads but you now also get the check back to see the name to whom it was made out and who signed the back of it.) 
• You will be able to request a copy of the check if you know exactly which numbered check you want. It appears that banks will be able to charge a fee for this even though the banks will save a lot of money by not returning your checks automatically 
• Banks will escape liability in most circumstances for processing any post dated checks before the date on them. 
• Consumers will have a greater burden to quickly detect any forgeries or mistakes on the checks even though they will not have the cancelled checks in front of them.

Paul Schlaver, Director of the Cambridge Consumers' Council and other advocates are fighting the battle against the passage of H.286. They are about to begin meeting with banking industry representatives to see if a compromise can be reached.

If Cambridge seniors or other "NEWSLINES" readers wish to sign a petition against H.286 they may visit the North Cambridge Senior Center at 2050 Mass. Ave., the Pearl Street Senior Center at 15 Pearl St., or the Council on Aging office at 51 Inman St.

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