Counties: recording: real estate instruments.

Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors to adopt, by resolution, a fee of up to $3 for each recording of a real estate instrument, paper, or notice required or permitted by law to be recorded, except as specified. Existing law defines the term "real estate instrument" to mean a deed of trust, an assignment of trust, a reconveyance, a request for notice, a notice of default, a substitution of trustee, a notice of trustee sale, or a notice of rescission of declaration of default. Existing law requires a district attorney in a participating county to annually submit a report to the Legislative Analyst's Office on the effectiveness of deterring, investigating, and prosecuting real estate fraud crimes funded by the recording fee, and requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to report to the Legislature on these efforts, as specified. This bill would increase the highest fee that may be charged to $10 and would also include in the definition of "real estate instrument" an amended deed of trust, an abstract of judgment, an affidavit, an assignment of rents, an assignment of a lease, a construction trust deed, covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) , a declaration of homestead, an easement, a lease, a lien, a lot line adjustment, a mechanics lien, a modification for deed of trust, a notice of completion, a quitclaim deed, a subordination agreement, a trustee's deed upon sale, and any Uniform Commercial Code amendment, assignment, continuation, statement, or termination. The bill would repeal the specific reporting requirement from county district attorneys to the Legislative Analyst's Office and from the Legislative Analyst's Office to the Legislature.