February 23, 2017, Introduced by Rep. Kelly and referred to the Committee on Local Government.
A bill to amend 1961 PA 236, entitled
"Revised judicature act of 1961,"
by amending section 2568 (MCL 600.2568), as added by 2002 PA 698.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 2568. (1) Each county in this state shall establish an
automation fund, and that fund shall receive money deposited by the
register
of deeds of the county in accordance with section 2567. as
provided by law. The county treasurer shall direct investment of
the fund and shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from
fund investments. In a county with a population of 100,000 or more,
the balance in the county automation fund shall not exceed
$50,000.00, and on or before the end of each county fiscal year,
any amount in the county automation fund in excess of $50,000.00
shall be deposited in the county general fund to be used for
upgrading technology in the county as determined by the county
board of commissioners. In a county with a population of less than
100,000, the balance in the county automation fund shall not exceed
$20,000.00, and on or before the end of each county fiscal year,
any amount in the county automation fund in excess of $20,000.00
shall be deposited in the county general fund to be used for
upgrading technology in the county as determined by the county
board of commissioners.
(2) The county register of deeds of each county shall expend
the
fees credited to the automation fund under section 2567 subject
to an appropriation under the uniform budgeting and accounting act,
1968 PA 2, MCL 141.421 to 141.440a, for upgrading technology in the
register of deeds office, with priority given to upgrading search
capabilities. Upgrading includes the design and purchase of
equipment and supplies, and implementation of systems and
procedures that allow the register of deeds to receive, enter,
record, certify, index, store, search, retrieve, copy, and
otherwise process by automated procedures and advanced technology
documents, instruments, abstracts, maps, plats, and other items
recorded and maintained by the register of deeds.
(3)
Not later than 90 days after the effective date of the
amendatory
act that added this subsection, June
29, 2003, each
register of deeds shall begin to implement procedures to process
and make available all items recorded, compiled, or maintained by
that register of deeds, using the automated procedures and advanced
technology described in subsection (2) to the maximum extent
feasible utilizing the automation fund created under subsection
(1).
(4)
Four years after the effective date of the amendatory act
that
added this section, the register of deeds of each county shall
prepare
a report to the legislature that addresses, but is not
limited
to, each of the following issues:
(a)
The progress that has been made by the register of deeds
since
the effective date of the amendatory act that added this
section
in achieving a goal of timely processing of recordable
instruments.
(b)
The extent to which the register of deeds has made records
in
the register's possession computer accessible by way of internet
websites
or other on-line media.
(5)
The reports required under subsection (4) may be compiled
into
a single report by an agent of the county registers of deeds
before
it is submitted to the legislature.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.