2009 California Financial Code - Section 970-971 :: Article 2. Certified Checks

970.  Whenever a bank certifies a check, the amount thereof shall be
immediately charged against the account of the drawer.

971.  It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of a bank to
certify any check drawn upon such bank, unless the drawer has on
deposit with the bank, at the time such check is certified, an amount
to his credit on the books of the bank not less than the amount
specified therein.
   Any bank officer or employee who wilfully violates the provisions
of this section or who resorts to any device or receives any
fictitious obligations directly or indirectly in order to evade the
provisions of this section is guilty of a felony.