March 22, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Byrum, Coulouris, LeBlanc, McDowell, Lahti, Ebli, Bieda, Valentine, Bennett, Byrnes, Angerer, Wenke and Young and referred to the Committee on Intergovernmental, Urban and Regional Affairs.
A bill to amend 1875 PA 54, entitled
"An act to facilitate the inspection and reproduction of the
records and files in the offices of the registers of deeds,"
by amending section 1 (MCL 565.551), as amended by 1994 PA 51.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. (1) A register of deeds shall furnish proper and
reasonable facilities for the inspection and examination of the
records and files in his or her office, and for making memorandums
or transcripts from the records and files during the usual business
hours, to an individual having a lawful purpose to examine the
records and files. However, the custodian of the records and files
may make reasonable rules and regulations with reference to the
inspection and examination of the records and files as is necessary
to protect the records and files and to prevent interference with
the regular discharge of the duties of the register of deeds.
(2) If an individual requests a reproduction of a record or
file of a register of deeds, the register of deeds shall do 1 of
the following, at the register of deeds' option:
(a) Reproduce the record or file for the individual pursuant
to
the records media act, Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1992,
being
sections 24.401 to 24.403 of the Michigan Compiled Laws
reproduction act, 1992 PA 116, MCL 24.401 to 24.406, using a medium
selected by the register of deeds. Unless a different fee is
provided for by law, the fee for a reproduction under this
subdivision other than a paper copy shall not exceed the reasonable
costs to the register of deeds.
(b) Provide equipment for the individual to reproduce the
record
or file pursuant to Act No. 116 of the Public Acts of 1992
the records reproduction act, 1992 PA 116, MCL 24.401 to 24.406,
using a medium selected by the register of deeds. Unless a
different fee is provided for by law, the fee for a reproduction
under this subdivision other than a paper copy shall not exceed the
reasonable costs to the register of deeds.
(c) Authorize the individual to reproduce the record or file
on the premises using equipment provided by that individual. This
subdivision does not apply unless the individual requests
authorization to reproduce the record or file using equipment
provided by that individual.
(3) A register of deeds may prohibit the reproduction of an
instrument temporarily left with the register of deeds to be
recorded in the register of deeds' office.
(4) Beginning March 1, 2005, unless state or federal law,
rule, regulation, or court order or rule requires that all or more
than 4 sequential digits of the social security number appear in
the record or file, if a record or file that contains a social
security number is reproduced for or by an individual under
subsection (2), the register of deeds may obscure or remove, or
require that the individual obscure or remove, all or at least 5
digits of the social security number from the reproduction before
the individual removes the reproduction from the office of the
register of deeds. This subsection does not apply after December
31, 2007.
(5) Beginning January 1, 2008, unless state or federal law,
rule, regulation, or court order or rule requires that all or more
than 4 sequential digits of the social security number appear in
the record or file, if a record or file that contains a social
security number is reproduced for or by an individual under
subsection (2), the register of deeds shall obscure or remove, or
require that the individual obscure or remove, all or at least 5
digits of the social security number from the reproduction before
the individual removes the reproduction from the office of the
register of deeds.