FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1249
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEAMATO.
2715H.01I JOSEPHENGLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections442.380and570.095,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofthreenew
sectionsrelatingtofiledorrecordeddocuments,withpenaltyprovisions.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections442.380and570.095,RSMo,arerepealedandthreenewsections
2enactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections442.380,443.295,and570.095,toreadas
3follows:
442.380.1.Everyinstrumentinwritingthatconveysanyrealestate,orwherebyany
2realestatemaybeaffected,inlaworequity,provedoracknowledgedandcertifiedinthe
3mannerhereinprescribed,shallberecordedintheofficeoftherecorderofthecountyin
4whichsuchrealestateissituated.
5 2.(1)Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,exceptas
6otherwiseprovidedinsubdivision(3)ofthissubsection,anindividualwhofiles,records,
7transfers,orpresentstotherecorderofdeedsaquitclaimdeedforfilingorrecording
8shallfile,record,transfer,orpresentsuchdeed:
9 (a)Inpersonintherecorder'soffice;
10 (b)Totherecorderortherecorder'sdesignee;and
11 (c)Onapaperformprovidedbytherecorder.
12 (2)Exceptasotherwiseprovidedinsubdivision(3)ofthissubsection,no
13quitclaimdeedthatanindividualattemptstofile,record,transfer,orpresenttothe
14recorderofdeedsshallbefiled,recorded,transferred,orpresentedtotherecorderby
15wayofanywebportalorbefiled,recorded,transferred,orpresentedonanyform
16obtainedfromtheinternet.
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 17 (3)Therecorderofdeedsortherecorder'sdesigneemayacceptaquitclaimdeed
18forfilingorrecordingfromawebportaloranotherelectronicmethodoffiling,
19recording,transferring,orpresentingsuchquitclaimdeedfromonlythefollowing:
20 (a)Arealestatebrokerlicensedunderchapter339;
21 (b)Alicensedtitlecompany;or
22 (c)Alicensedattorney.
443.295.Apersonshallnotobtainaloanwithaquitclaimdeedunlesstheperson
2isapartytotheoriginalwarrantydeedorobtainedtitletotherealpropertythrougha
3quiettitleaction.
570.095.1.Apersoncommitstheoffenseoffilingfalsedocumentsif:
2 (1)Withtheintenttodefraud,deceive,harass,alarm,ornegativelyimpact
3financially,orinsuchamannerreasonablycalculatedtodeceive,defraud,harass,alarm,or
4negativelyimpactfinancially,heorshefiles,causestobefiledorrecorded,orattemptstofile
5orrecord,creates,usesasgenuine,transfersorhastransferred,presents,orprepareswith
6knowledgeorbeliefthatitwillbefiled,presented,recorded,ortransferredtothesecretaryof
7stateorthesecretary'sdesignee,totherecorderofdeedsofanycountyorcitynotwithina
8countyortherecorder'sdesignee,toanymunicipal,county,district,orstategovernment
9entity,division,agency,oroffice,ortoanycreditbureauorfinancialinstitutionanyofthe
10followingtypesofdocuments:
11 (a)Commonlawlien;
12 (b)Uniformcommercialcodefilingorrecord;
13 (c)Realpropertyrecording;
14 (d)Financingstatement;
15 (e)Contract;
16 (f)Warranty,special,orquitclaimdeed;
17 (g)Quiettitleclaimoraction;
18 (h)Deedinlieuofforeclosure;
19 (i)Legalaffidavit;
20 (j)Legalprocess;
21 (k)Legalsummons;
22 (l)Billsandduebills;
23 (m)Criminalchargingdocumentsormateriallyfalsecriminalchargingdocuments;
24 (n)Anyotherdocumentnotstatedinthissubdivisionthatisrelatedtorealproperty;
25or
26 (o)Anystate,county,district,federal,municipal,creditbureau,orfinancial
27institutionformordocument;and
HB1249 2 28 (2)Suchdocumentlistedundersubdivision(1)ofthissubsectioncontainsmaterially
29falseinformation;isfraudulent;isaforgery,as[defined] describedundersection570.090;
30lackstheconsentofallpartieslistedinadocumentthatrequiresmutualconsent;orisinvalid
31underMissourilaw.
32 2.Filingfalsedocumentsunderthissectionisaclass[D]Cfelonyforthefirst
33offenseexceptthefollowingcircumstancesshallbeaclass[C]Bfelony:
34 (1)Thedefendanthasbeenpreviouslyfoundguiltyorpleadedguiltytoaviolationof
35thissection;
36 (2)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematter:
37 (a)Isanofficialelectedtomunicipal,county,district,federal,orstatewideoffice;
38 (b)Isanofficialappointedtomunicipal,county,district,federal,orstatewideoffice;
39or
40 (c)Isanemployeeofanofficialelectedorappointedtomunicipal,county,district,
41federal,orstatewideoffice;
42 (3)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisajudgeormagistrateof:
43 (a)Anycourtordivisionofthecourtinthisoranyotherstateoranemployeethereof;
44or
45 (b)AnycourtsystemoftheUnitedStatesorisanemployeethereof;
46 (4)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisafull-time,part-time,orreserveor
47auxiliarypeaceofficer,asdefinedundersection590.010,whoislicensedinthisstateorany
48otherstate;
49 (5)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisafull-time,part-time,orvolunteer
50firefighterinthisstateoranyotherstate;
51 (6)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisanofficeroffederaljobclass1811who
52isempoweredtoenforceUnitedStateslaws;
53 (7)ThevictimornamedpartyinthematterisalawenforcementofficeroftheUnited
54Statesasdefinedunder5U.S.C.Section8401(17)(A)or(D);
55 (8)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisanemployeeofanylawenforcementor
56legalprosecutionagencyinthisstate,anyotherstate,ortheUnitedStates;
57 (9)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisanemployeeofafederalagencythat
58hasagentsorofficersofjobclass1811whoareempoweredtoenforceUnitedStateslawsor
59isanemployeeofafederalagencythathaslawenforcementofficersasdefinedunder5
60U.S.C.Section8401(17)(A)or(D);or
61 (10)Thevictimornamedpartyinthematterisanofficeroftherailroadpoliceas
62[defined] authorizedundersection388.600.
63 3.Forapenaltyenhancementasdescribedundersubsection2ofthissectiontoapply,
64theoccupationofthevictimornamedpartyshallbematerialtothesubjectmatterofthe
HB1249 3 65documentordocumentsfiledorthereliefsoughtbythedocumentordocumentsfiled,andthe
66occupationofthevictimornamedpartyshallbemateriallyconnectedtotheapparentreason
67thatthevictimhasbeennamed,victimized,orinvolved.Forpurposesofsubsection2ofthis
68sectionandthissubsection,apersonwhohasretiredorresignedfromanyagency,institution,
69oroccupationlistedundersubsection2ofthissectionshallbeconsideredthesameasa
70personwhoremainsinemploymentandshallalsoincludethefollowingfamilymembersofa
71personlistedundersubdivisions(2)to(9)ofsubsection2ofthissection:
72 (1)Suchperson'sspouse;
73 (2)Suchpersonorsuchperson'sspouse'sancestorordescendantbybloodor
74adoption;or
75 (3)Suchperson'sstepchildwhilethemarriagecreatingthatrelationshipexists.
76 4.Anypersonwhopleadsguiltyorisfoundguiltyundersubsections1to3ofthis
77sectionshallbeorderedbythecourttomakefullrestitutiontoanypersonorentitythathas
78sustainedactuallossesorcostsasaresultoftheactionsofthedefendants.Suchrestitution
79shallnotbepaidinlieuofjailorprisontimebutratherinadditiontoanyjailorprisontime
80imposedbythecourt.
81 5.(1)Nothinginthissectionshalllimitthepowerofthestatetoinvestigate,charge,
82orpunishanypersonforanyconductthatconstitutesacrimebyanyotherstatuteofthisstate
83ortheUnitedStates.
84 (2)Noreceivingentityshallberequiredunderthissectiontoretainthefilingor
85recordforprosecutionunderthissection.Afilingorrecordbeingrejectedbythereceiving
86entityshallnotbeusedasanaffirmativedefense.
87 6.(1)Anyagencyofthestate,acounty,oracitynotwithinacountythatis
88responsiblefororreceivesdocumentfilingsorrecords,includingcountyrecordersofdeeds
89andthesecretaryofstate'soffice,shall,byJanuary1,2019,imposeasysteminwhichthe
90documentsthathavebeensubmittedtothereceivingagency,orthosefilingsrejectedbythe
91secretaryofstateunderitslegalauthority,areloggedornotedinaledger,spreadsheet,or
92similarrecordingmethodifthefilingorrecordingofficeroremployeebelievesthefilingsor
93recordsappeartobefraudulentorcontainsuspiciouslanguage.Thereceivingagencyshall
94makenoteddocumentsavailableforreviewby:
95 (a)Thejurisdictionalprosecutingorcircuitattorneyorsuchattorney'sdesignee;
96 (b)Thecountysherifforthesheriff'sdesignee;
97 (c)Thepolicechiefofacountyorcitynotwithinacountyorsuchchief'sdesignee;or
98 (d)Acommissionedpeaceofficerasdefinedundersection590.010.
99
100Reviewofsuchdocumentsispermissiblefortheagentoragenciesunderthissubdivision
101withouttheneedofagrandjurysubpoenaorcourtorder.Nofeesormonetarychargesshall
HB1249 4 102beleviedontheinvestigativeagentsoragenciesforreviewofdocumentsnotedintheledger
103orspreadsheet.Theledgerorspreadsheetanditscontentsshallberetainedbytheagencythat
104controlsentriesintosuchledgerorspreadsheetforaminimumofthreeyearsfromtheearliest
105entrylistedintheledgerorspreadsheet.
106 (2)Thereceivingentityshall,uponreceiptofafilingorrecordthathasbeennotedas
107asuspiciousfilingorrecord,notifythechieflawenforcementofficerorsuchofficer's
108designeeofthecountyandtheprosecutorortheprosecutor'sdesigneeofthecountyofthe
109filing'sorrecord'sexistence.Suchnotificationshallbemadewithintwobusinessdaysofthe
110filingorrecordhavingbeenreceived.Notificationmaybeaccomplishedviaemailorvia
111papermemorandum.
112 (3)Noagencyreceivingthefilingorrecordshallberequiredunderthissectionto
113notifythepersonconductingthefilingorrecordthatthefilingorrecordisenteredasalogged
114ornotedfilingorrecord.
115 (4)Reviewstoensurecompliancewiththeprovisionsofthissectionshallbethe
116responsibilityofanycommissionedpeaceofficer.Findingsofnoncomplianceshallbe
117reportedtothejurisdictionalprosecutingorcircuitattorneyorsuchattorney'sdesigneebyany
118commissionedpeaceofficerwhohasprobablecausetobelievethatthenoncompliancehas
119takenplacepurposely,knowingly,recklessly,orwithcriminalnegligence,asdescribedunder
120section562.016.
121 7.Topetitionforajudicialreviewofafilingorrecordthatisbelievedtobe
122fraudulent,false,misleading,forged,orcontainsmateriallyfalseinformation,apetitioner
123mayfileaprobablecausestatementthatdelineatesthebasisforthebeliefthatthefilingor
124recordismateriallyfalse,containsmateriallyfalseinformation,isaforgery,isfraudulent,or
125ismisleading.Thisprobablecausestatementshallbefiledintheassociateorcircuitcourtof
126thecountyinwhichtheoriginalfilingorrecordwastransferred,received,orrecorded.
127 8.Afiledpetitionunderthissectionshallhaveaninitialhearingdatewithintwenty
128businessdaysofthedatethepetitionisfiledwiththecourt.Acourtrulingofinvalidshallbe
129evidencethattheoriginalfilingorrecordwasnotaccurate,true,orcorrect.Acourtrulingof
130invalidshallberetainedorrecordedattheoriginalreceivingentity.Thereceivingentityshall
131waiveallfilingorrecordingfeesassociatedwiththefilingorrecordingofthecourtruling
132documentinthissubsection.Suchrulingmaybeforwardedtocreditbureausorother
133institutionsattherequestofthepetitionerviamotiontotheapplicablecourtatnoadditional
134costtothepetitioner.
135 9.Ifafilingorrecordisdeemedinvalid,courtcostsandfeesaretheresponsibilityof
136thepartywhooriginallyinitiatedthefilingorrecord.Ifthefilingorrecordisdeemedvalid,
137nocourtcostsorfees,inadditiontostandardfilingfees,shallbeassessed.
HB1249 5 138 10.(1)Anypropertyownermaypresenttolawenforcementwithjurisdiction
139overtheproperty'slocationinformationthatafiledorrecordeddocumentlistedin
140subsection1ofthissectionisfraudulentandconveysthepropertytoapartythrougha
141transactioninwhichthepropertyownerdidnotconsent.
142 (2)Uponthepresentationofsuchinformationandanaffidavitattestingtoits
143accuracy,includinganattestationthatthepropertyownerdidnothaveknowledgeof
144norwasapartytothetransactioninquestion,locallawenforcementshallinvestigate
145thepropertyowner'scomplaint.
146 (3)Whenlawenforcementbelievesthereisreasonableevidencethetransaction
147inquestionwasfraudulent,theyshallreferthemattertotheprosecutingattorney.
148 (4)Uponthereceiptoflawenforcement'sreferral,theprosecutingattorneyshall
149haveforty-fivedaystoinvestigatetheinformationassociatedwiththecomplaintto
150determineifthereisprobablecausethatthedocumentwasfiledorrecorded
151fraudulently.
152 (5)Ifthereisprobablecausethatthedocumentwasfiledorrecorded
153fraudulently,theprosecutorshallpetitionforajudicialreviewundersubsections7,8,
154and9ofthissection.
155 (6)Intheeventapropertyownerisfoundtohaveknowinglypresentedafalse
156claimtolawenforcementunderthissection,suchpersonmaybesubjecttoprosecution
157forperjury.
158 (7)Anycountyrecorderofdeedsmaypostinformationontheinvestigation
159processoutlinedinthissubsectionintheirofficeandonline.
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