SSB 1070 (LSB 1437XC (1) 85)

SENATE FILE _____

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL BY CHAIRPERSON WILHELM)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to certain fees collected by the county recorder.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 331.604, subsection 3, paragraph b, Code 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   b.
  (1)  For the period beginning July 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2009, the county recorder shall also collect a fee of one dollar for each recorded transaction, regardless of the number of pages, for which a fee is paid pursuant to subsection 1 to be used for the purpose set forth in paragraph “d”.
   (2)  For the period beginning July 1, 2009, and ending June 30, 2011, the recorder shall also collect a fee of three dollars for each recorded transaction, regardless of the number of pages, for which a fee is paid pursuant to subsection 1 to be used for the following purposes:
   (a)  Maintaining the statewide internet website and the county land record information system.
   (b)  Integrating information contained in documents and records maintained by the recorder and other land record information from other sources with the county land record information system.
   (c)  Implementing and maintaining a process for redacting personally identifiable information contained in electronic documents that are displayed for public access through an internet website or that are transferred to another person.
   (3)

(1)  Beginning July 1, 2011
 
2013, the recorder shall also collect a fee of one dollar
 
two dollars for each recorded transaction, regardless of the number of pages, for which a fee is paid pursuant to subsection 1 to be used for the purposes in subparagraph (2) and for the following purposes:
   (a)  Establishing and implementing standards for recording, processing, and archiving electronic documents and records.
   (b)  Expanding access to records by encouraging electronic indexing and scanning of documents and instruments recorded in prior years.
   (c)  Maintaining the statewide internet site and the county land record information system.
   (d)  Integrating information contained in documents and records maintained by the recorder and other land record information from other sources with the county land record information system.
   (e)  Implementing and maintaining a process for redacting personally identifiable information contained in electronic documents that are displayed for public access through an internet site or that are transferred to another person.
   (f)  Maintaining and improving the technical integration between the county land record information system and the county records management systems.
   (g)  Expanding access to other online electronic services administered through the office of the county recorder.
   (4)

(2)  Notwithstanding subparagraph (2), the
 
The fee collected by the recorder under this subsection for recording a plat of survey is one dollar, regardless of the number of pages. For purposes of this subparagraph, “plat of survey” means the same as defined in section 355.1, subsection 9.
   (5)  Fees collected in excess of the amount needed for the purposes specified in this subsection shall be used by the county land record information system to reduce or eliminate service fees for electronic submission of documents and instruments.
EXPLANATION
   This bill requires that a county recorder collect an extra $1 in fees beginning July 1, 2013, for each recorded transaction to be used by the recorder exclusively for certain specified purposes related to information systems, electronic documentation, and internet site maintenance. The bill also strikes language that required certain other fees to be collected between 2004 and June 30, 2011, and transfers the purposes for which the fees could be used to the provision regarding fees collected beginning July 1, 2013.
   Finally, the bill also adds certain additional purposes for which the fee may be used, including expanding access to electronic services and maintaining and improving technical integration between county systems.