Bill Text: HI HB1630 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Mortgages and Security Interests; Reassignment of Interests in Leases and Rents
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-11 - Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Har, Oshiro excused (2). [HB1630 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2016-HB1630-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1630 |
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TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to security interests in real property.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the records of the bureau of conveyances reflect numerous instruments evidencing assignments of borrower's interests in leases and rents that were given as security for mortgage loans, and that the records for many of these assignments have not subsequently been reassigned or released even though the underlying loans have been fully paid or otherwise satisfied. By Act 143, Session Laws of Hawaii 1988, the legislature found that it is in the public's interest to clear the public record of unreleased mortgages and authorized title insurers or underwritten title companies as defined in section 431:20-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to make a demand on the mortgagee and, in the absence of compliance, to execute and record a release of a fully satisfied mortgage under certain conditions. There is, however, no comparable provision for compelling and accomplishing a release of a recorded assignment of leases or rents, which sometimes accompanies the mortgage as additional security for the loan. Accordingly, many unenforceable assignments continue to exist in the public record and may cloud title to real estate.
The purpose of this Act is to amend section 506-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to supplement the procedure for clearing titles by adding a reference to recorded assignments of leases and rents for which the underlying debt has been fully paid or satisfied, in order to promote the clarity of the public record.
SECTION 2. Section 506-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"§506-8 Release of mortgages of real
property or fixtures[.] and reassignment of security interests.
The mortgagee of real property or the record assignee of a mortgage interest
shall provide to the mortgagor a release of mortgage upon full satisfaction of
the mortgage and discharge of any secured debt. If the debt secured by the
mortgage is also secured by an assignment of the borrower's or mortgagor's
interest in leases or rents to the mortgagee, then the mortgagee or record
assignee shall also provide to the borrower or mortgagor, as applicable, a
reassignment or release of the security interest upon full satisfaction and
discharge of the secured debt. The instrument or instruments shall
be duly acknowledged, shall sufficiently describe the mortgage or assignment
that has been satisfied, and be recordable in the bureau of conveyances or
office of the assistant registrar of the land court, or both, as appropriate.
If the mortgagee or record assignee fails to provide a release of the mortgage and
reassignment or release of security interest as required by this section
within sixty days from the date of a request made in writing by any party in
interest, and sent by certified or registered mail to the mortgagee or record
assignee at its last known address, then:
(1) Any title insurer or underwritten title company as defined in section 431:20-102 may execute the release of mortgage or reassignment or release of the mortgagee's security interest in leases and rents on behalf of the mortgagee or record assignee; provided that:
(A) The release or reassignment shall
have attached to it an affidavit setting forth proof, such as a canceled check
or written confirmation from the mortgagee[,] or recorded assignee,
that reasonably establishes that the [mortgage] debt secured by the
mortgage or assignment of leases and rents has been discharged and the
mortgage or assignment of leases and rents has been fully satisfied; and
(B) The release or reassignment shall be executed by an officer of the title insurer or underwritten title company.
In
the event that a mortgage is released or the mortgagee's security interest
in the leases and rents is reassigned or released by a title insurer or
underwritten title company under the provisions of this section but the
mortgage debt has not been discharged, the mortgage has not been fully
satisfied, and the title insurer or underwritten title company acted with gross
negligence or in bad faith in releasing the mortgage[,] or
reassigning or releasing the security interest in the leases and rents, the
title insurer or underwritten title company releasing the mortgage or
reassigning or releasing the security interest in the leases and rents
shall be liable to the mortgagee for treble damages and reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs; or
(2) The mortgagor or a company issuing title
insurance to a new owner of the mortgaged subject real property or to another
mortgagee of the subject real property, or the escrow company charged by the
mortgagor with obtaining the release of mortgage[,] or reassignment
or release of the security interest in the leases and rents, or any other
interested party, as plaintiff, may institute an action in any circuit court to
obtain the appropriate release [of mortgage;] or reassignment
instrument; provided that:
(A) The plaintiff in the action shall mail a copy of the complaint to the mortgagee or record assignee by certified or registered mail addressed to the mortgagee or record assignee at its last known address;
(B) If the mortgagee or record assignee does not
file an answer to the complaint within forty-five days after the mailing, the
court, upon receipt of an affidavit of mailing required by this section and
upon satisfactory proof that the mortgage debt has been discharged and the
mortgage has been fully satisfied, shall issue an order releasing the mortgage[;]
and reassigning or releasing the security interest in the leases and rents,
as applicable;
(C) This order shall be recorded in the bureau of conveyances or office of the assistant registrar of the land court, or both, as appropriate; and
(D) Upon a finding of good cause by the court,
the plaintiff shall be entitled to treble damages and reasonable attorneys'
fees and costs incurred in the action unless the court finds that the mortgagee
had a reasonable basis for believing that a dispute existed regarding whether
the mortgage should have been released[.] or the security interest in
the leases and rents should have been reassigned or released."
SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Mortgages and Security Interests; Reassignment of Interests in Leases and Rents
Description:
Requires a mortgagee or record assignee to provide to a mortgagor or borrower, upon full satisfaction of the mortgage and discharge of the secured debt, a reassignment or release of security interests in leases and rents that served as additional security for the mortgage. Authorizes title insurers or underwritten title companies to make demands on mortgagees and, in the absence of compliance, to reassign or release mortgagees' security interests in leases and rents on behalf of the mortgagee or record assignee, under certain conditions. Authorizes certain entities to institute an action in any circuit court to obtain the release or reassignment instrument in the absence of compliance of a mortgagee or record assignee.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
