SENATE AMENDED
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1262 PRINTER'S NO. 2879
No. 1116 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY BARD, ROSS, HERMAN, LESCOVITZ AND COY,
APRIL 2, 1997
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, IN SENATE, FEBRUARY 3, 1998
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of May 11, 1949 (P.L.1076, No.311), entitled
2 "An act authorizing the recording, copying and recopying, of
3 documents, plats, papers, written instruments, records and
4 books on file or of record, and the replacement and
5 certification of originals previously filed and of record, by
6 officers of counties of the first class and of cities of the
7 first class, by photostatic, photographic, microphotographic,
8 microfilm, or other mechanical process; relating to the
9 effect and use of such copies, records, reproductions,
10 replacements and transcripts, or certified copies thereof,
11 and providing for additional methods for revision of and
12 entries to be made on originals and copies so produced or
13 replaced," further providing for additional methods for the
14 recording, copying and maintenance of records; AND PROVIDING <--
15 FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE.
16 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17 hereby enacts as follows:
18 Section 1. Section 1 of the act of May 11, 1949 (P.L.1076,
19 No.311), entitled "An act authorizing the recording, copying and
20 recopying, of documents, plats, papers, written instruments,
21 records and books on file or of record, and the replacement and
22 certification of originals previously filed and of record, by
23 officers of counties of the first class and of cities of the
1 first class, by photostatic, photographic, microphotographic,
2 microfilm, or other mechanical process; relating to the effect
3 and use of such copies, records, reproductions, replacements and
4 transcripts, or certified copies thereof, and providing for
5 revision of and entries to be made on originals and copies so
6 produced or replaced," is amended to read:
7 Section 1. Whenever any officer of any county of the first
8 class or of any city of the first class is required or
9 authorized by law [to record, copy, recopy, or replace, any
10 document, plat, paper, written instrument, or book, on file or
11 of record in his office, he may do so by photostatic,
12 photographic, microphotographic, microfilm, or other mechanical
13 process which produces a clear, accurate, and permanent, copy or
14 reproduction of the original document, plat, paper, written
15 instrument, or record, in accordance with standards not less
16 than those approved for permanent records by the National Bureau
17 of Standards.] or otherwise to record, copy or recopy any
18 document, plat, paper or instrument of writing, he may do so by
19 any photostatic, photographic, microphotographic, microfilm,
20 microcard, miniature photographic, optical, electronic or other
21 process which accurately reproduces the original and forms a
22 durable medium for recording, storing and reproducing the
23 original in accordance with standards, policies and procedures
24 for the creation, maintenance, transmission or reproduction of
25 images of records not less than those approved by the National
26 Institute of Standards and Technology. Any document, plat, paper
27 or instrument of writing within the scope of this section and
28 which previously has been recorded, copied or recopied also may
29 be reproduced by processes authorized by this section.
30 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately. <--
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1 SECTION 2. THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ: <--
2 SECTION 1.1. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER FEE PROVIDED BY LAW,
3 INCLUDING ANY FEE SET BY LOCAL ORDINANCE, A FEE IN THE AMOUNT OF
4 $2 SHALL BE CHARGED AND COLLECTED FOR EACH DOCUMENT RECORDED BY
5 THE RECORDER OF DEEDS OR EQUIVALENT OFFICER OF ANY CITY OR
6 COUNTY OF THE FIRST CLASS. FEES COLLECTED PURSUANT TO THIS
7 SECTION SHALL BE PAID INTO THE GENERAL FUND OF SUCH CITY OR
8 COUNTY FOR APPROPRIATION SOLELY TO THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF
9 DEEDS OR EQUIVALENT OFFICER OF ANY CITY OR COUNTY OF THE FIRST
10 CLASS TO BE USED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULAR BUDGETING,
11 CONTRACTING AND PROCUREMENT PRACTICES, TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT
12 AND IMPROVEMENT OF OFFICE RECORDS MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND
13 SYSTEMS IN THE OFFICE OF THE RECORDER OF DEEDS OR IN ITS
14 EQUIVALENT. AMOUNTS SO APPROPRIATED SHALL NOT BE USED TO
15 SUBSTITUTE ANY ALLOCATIONS OF GENERAL FUND REVENUES FOR THE
16 OPERATION OF THE RECORDER'S OFFICE.
17 SECTION 3. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT APRIL 1, 1998.
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