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. The county treasurer shall direct investment of the fund and shall credit to the fund interest and earnings from fund investments.

(2) The county register of deeds of each county shall expend the fees credited to the 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, 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 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.

History: Add. 2002, Act 698, Eff. Mar. 31, 2003