S.B. No. 485

	AN ACT
	relating to proper venue for certain criminal prosecutions of
	mortgage fraud.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended by adding Article 13.271 to read as follows:
	Art. 13.271.  PROSECUTION OF MORTGAGE FRAUD. (a)  In this
	article, "real estate transaction" means a sale, lease, trade,
	exchange, gift, grant, or other conveyance of a real property
	interest.
	(b)  Any offense under Chapter 32, Penal Code, that involves
	a real estate transaction may be prosecuted in:
	(1)  the county where the property is located; or
	(2)  any county in which part of the transaction
	occurred, including the generation of documentation supporting the
	transaction.
	(c)  An offense under Section 32.46, 32.48, or 32.49, Penal
	Code, that involves a real estate transaction may also be
	prosecuted in any county authorized by Article 13.27.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to a criminal case in which
	the indictment, information, or complaint is presented to the court
	on or after the effective date of this Act.  A criminal case in which
	the indictment, information, or complaint was presented to the
	court before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law
	in effect when the indictment, information, or complaint was
	presented, and the former law is continued in effect for that
	purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 485 passed the Senate on
	March 24, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 485 passed the House on
	May 19, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, one
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor