FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSECOMMITTEESUBSTITUTEFOR
HOUSEBILLNO.1249
103RDGENERALASSEMBLY
2715H.02C JOSEPHENGLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections486.735,570.095,and578.700,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereoffour
newsectionsrelatingtoprotectionsagainstdocumentfraud,withpenaltyprovisions.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections486.735,570.095,and578.700,RSMo,arerepealedandfour
2newsectionsenactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections443.295,486.735,570.095,and
3578.700,toreadasfollows:
443.295.Apersonshallnotobtainaloanwithaquitclaimdeedunlesstheperson
2isapartytotheoriginalwarrantydeedorobtainedtitletotherealpropertythrougha
3quiettitleaction.
486.735.1.Avendorormanufacturershallregisterwiththesecretarypriortoselling
2ormanufacturingnotaryseals.Thesecretaryshallmaintainaninternetsiteforthepurposeof
3allowingvendorsandmanufacturerstoconfirmthecurrentstandingofanynotaryinthestate.
4 2.Avendorormanufacturershallnotprovideanotarysealtoapurchaserclaimingto
5beanotary,unlessthepurchaserpresentsanotarycommissionissuedbythesecretary,and
6unless:
7 (1)Inthecaseofapurchaserappearinginperson,thevendorormanufacturer
8identifiesthisindividualasthepersonnamedinthecommission,througheitherpersonal
9knowledgeorsatisfactoryevidenceofidentity;or
10 (2)Inthecaseofapurchaserorderingasealbymailordeliveryservice,thevendoror
11manufacturerconfirmsthenotary'sstandingasacommissionednotarythroughtheinternet
12site.
13 3.Foreachcommission,avendorormanufacturershallmakeorsellonlyoneseal
14and,ifrequestedbythepersonpresentingthecommission,onlyoneembossingseal.
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 15 4.Aftermanufacturingorprovidinganotaryseal,thevendorshallaffixanimageof
16allsealsonaformasprescribedbythesecretaryand,withinsevenbusinessdays,sendthe
17completedformtothesecretary,retainingacopyoftheformandthecommissionforaperiod
18offiveyears.
19 5.Anotaryobtainingasealasaresultofanamechangeshallpresentacopyofthe
20confirmationofnotary'snameoraddresschangefromthesecretaryinaccordancewith
21sections486.780and486.785.
22 6.Avendorormanufacturerwhofailstocomplywiththissectionshallbesubjecttoa
23fineof[one] fivethousanddollarsforeachviolation.Formultipleviolations,avendor's
24permissiontosellormanufacturenotarysealsmaybewithdrawnbythesecretary.Such
25violationshallnotprecludethecivilliabilityofthevendortopartiesinjuredbythevendor's
26failuretocomplywiththissection.
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
HCSHB1249 2 26 (o)Anystate,county,district,federal,municipal,creditbureau,orfinancial
27institutionformordocument;and
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.
HCSHB1249 3 63 3.Forapenaltyenhancementasdescribedundersubsection2ofthissectiontoapply,
64theoccupationofthevictimornamedpartyshallbematerialtothesubjectmatterofthe
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
HCSHB1249 4 100Reviewofsuchdocumentsispermissiblefortheagentoragenciesunderthissubdivision
101withouttheneedofagrandjurysubpoenaorcourtorder.Nofeesormonetarychargesshall
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.
HCSHB1249 5 135 9.Ifafilingorrecordisdeemedinvalid,courtcostsandfeesaretheresponsibilityof
136thepartywhooriginallyinitiatedthefilingorrecord.Ifthefilingorrecordisdeemedvalid,
137nocourtcostsorfees,inadditiontostandardfilingfees,shallbeassessed.
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.
578.700.1.Forpurposesofthissection,alldefinitionsfromsection486.600shall
2apply.
3 2.Inperforminganotarialact,anotaryshallbeguiltyofamisdemeanor,punishable
4uponconvictionbyafinenotexceedingfivehundreddollarsorimprisonmentfornotmore
5thansixmonths,orboth,forknowingly:
6 (1)Failingtorequirethepresenceofaprincipalatthetimeofanotarialact;
7 (2)Failingtoidentifyaprincipalthroughpersonalknowledgeorsatisfactory
8evidence;or
9 (3)Executingafalsenotarialcertificateundersubsection1ofsection486.660.
10 3.Anotarywhoknowinglyperformsanyotheractprohibitedbychapter486orfails
11toperformanyotheractrequiredbychapter486shallbeguiltyofamisdemeanor,punishable
HCSHB1249 6 12uponconvictionbyafinenotexceedingfivehundreddollarsorimprisonmentfornotmore
13thansixmonths,orboth.
14 4.Anypersonwhoisnotanotaryandwhoknowinglyactsasorotherwise
15impersonatesanotaryshallbeguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanor,punishableuponconviction
16byafinenotexceeding[fivehundred] twothousanddollarsorimprisonmentfornotmore
17than[sixmonths] oneyear,orboth.
18 5.Anypersonwhoknowinglyobtains,conceals,defaces,ordestroystheseal,
19journal,orofficialrecordsofanotaryshallbeguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanor,punishable
20uponconvictionbyafinenotexceeding[fivehundred] twothousanddollars.
21 6.Anypersonwhoknowinglysolicits,coerces,orinanywayinfluencesanotaryto
22commitofficialmisconductshallbeguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanor,punishableupon
23convictionbyafinenotexceeding[fivehundred] twothousanddollars.
24 7.Anypersonwhoknowinglyobtains,conceals,damages,ordestroysthecoding,
25disk,certificate,card,token,program,software,orhardwarethatisintendedexclusivelyto
26enableanelectronicnotarypublictoproducearegisteredelectronicsignature,notaryseal,or
27singleelementcombiningtherequiredfeaturesofanelectronicsignatureandnotaryseal,
28shallbeguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanor,punishableuponconvictionbyafinenotexceeding
29[fivehundred] twothousanddollarsorimprisonmentfornotmorethan[sixmonths] one
30year,orboth.
31 8.Anypersonwhoisnotanotaryandknowinglypresentsfalseinformationto
32obtainorattempttoobtainanotarypublic'ssealfromamanufacturerunderchapter
33486shallbeguiltyofaclassAmisdemeanor,punishableuponconvictionbyafinenot
34exceedingtwothousanddollarsorimprisonmentfornotmorethanoneyear,orboth.
35 9.Thepenaltiesofthissectionshallnotprecludeothersanctionsandremedies
36providedbylaw.
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HCSHB1249 7