CA SB1342

Increases the maximum recording fee for real estate instruments from $3 to $10 per recording when adopted by county board of supervisors resolution.

Expands the definition of "real estate instrument" to include amended deeds of trust, abstracts of judgment, affidavits, assignments of rents and leases, construction trust deeds, CC&Rs, declarations of homestead, easements, leases, liens, lot line adjustments, mechanics liens, quitclaim deeds, subordination agreements, trustee's deeds upon sale, and Uniform Commercial Code amendments.

Excludes from the recording fee any deeds or instruments recorded in connection with real property transfers subject to documentary transfer tax, to avoid increasing housing transaction costs.

Directs collected fees to the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust Fund, with 60 percent distributed to district attorneys and 40 percent to local law enforcement agencies (or 100 percent to district attorneys in counties where they exclusively investigate real estate fraud).

Repeals the requirement for district attorneys to submit annual reports to the Legislative Analyst's Office on real estate fraud prosecution efforts.