(A) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or Chapter 5310. of the Revised Code to the contrary, and in accordance with the rules adopted by the county recorder under division (C) of this section, the recorder may perform any of the following functions by nonpaper means:

(1) Transcribe a certified copy of a decree of registration sent by the clerk of a probate court pursuant to section 5309.25 of the Revised Code;

(2) Enter any memorial, notation, or memorandum pertaining to registered land;

(3) Register a subsequent transfer of registered land and carry forward in connection with the registration any memorial, notation, or memorandum;

(4) Enter, index, and, if applicable, file any registered land record, including, but not limited to, documents relating to cancellations, releases, discharges, or satisfactions;

(5) Maintain each of the following:

(a) The register of titles kept pursuant to section 5309.25 of the Revised Code;

(b) The records of surveys of registered land kept pursuant to section 5309.32 of the Revised Code;

(c) The tract indexes, if any, required by the board of county commissioners pursuant to section 5309.33 of the Revised Code and the alphabetical indexes kept pursuant to that section;

(d) The record of trusts and exceptional estates in registered land kept pursuant to section 5309.35 of the Revised Code;

(e) The entry book kept pursuant to section 5309.38 of the Revised Code;

(f) The records of liens on registered land kept pursuant to section 5309.50 of the Revised Code and the record of leases on registered land kept pursuant to that section.

(6) Fulfill any other requirement of this chapter or Chapter 5310. of the Revised Code concerning the recorder's maintenance of registered land records.

(B) If a county recorder maintains registered land records by nonpaper means under division (A) of this section, all of the following shall apply:

(1) The recorder shall keep and have readily available the machines and equipment necessary to permit the inspection of, or to reproduce copies of, the registered land records maintained at the recorder's office, to fulfill requests made under section 149.43 of the Revised Code.

(2) Photographs, microphotographs, films, or microfilms shall be placed and kept in conveniently accessible, fireproof, and insulated files, cabinets, or containers.

(3) Notwithstanding any rules adopted by a county records commission under section 149.38 of the Revised Code specifying the length of time original paper records must be retained in that format, the recorder may dispose of the register of titles kept in book format and any other original paper registered land record provided for in section 5309.25 of the Revised Code after it has been transcribed, registered, entered, indexed, or filed by nonpaper means under division (A) of this section, in accordance with the rules adopted under division (C) of this section. The recorder shall adhere to all other applicable records retention rules adopted by a county records commission under section 149.38 of the Revised Code.

(C)

(1) A county recorder choosing to maintain registered land records by nonpaper means under division (A) of this section shall adopt rules for implementing this section. These rules shall be subject to approval by the board of county commissioners and shall do all of the following:

(a) Specify the type of nonpaper means that the county recorder will use to perform registered land functions;

(b) Identify the registered land functions that the county recorder will perform, and the registered land records that the county recorder will maintain, by nonpaper means;

(c) Specify the form of the record maintained by nonpaper means that will be deemed the original certificate of title under division (B) of section 5309.25 of the Revised Code;

(d) Provide for preserving, safekeeping, using, examining, exhibiting, projecting, and enlarging photographs, microphotographs, films, and microfilms;

(e) Provide for secure storage and maintenance of nonpaper records, including, but not limited to, requiring daily backups of records stored on computer to reflect daily changes made to those records;

(f) Specify the manner in which the recorder will sign an original certificate of title or other registered land record that is entered, indexed, or filed by nonpaper means;

(g) Provide for any other policies, procedures, or practices necessary for the maintenance of registered land records by nonpaper means.

(2) All registered land functions of a county recorder and all registered land records maintained by nonpaper means under division (A) of this section shall comply with the otherwise applicable requirements of this chapter and Chapter 5310. of the Revised Code.

(3) Any rules adopted under division (C)(1) of this section dealing with secure storage and computer or other security processes for nonpaper records may be approved in an executive session of a board of county commissioners.

(D) As used in this section and sections 5309.24, 5309.25, 5309.95, 5309.96, and 5309.98 of the Revised Code, "nonpaper means" means at least one process from each of the following categories, which process provides a medium of copying, recording, or reproducing applicable registered land records, including, but not limited to, memoranda, certificates, affidavits, or decrees:

(1) Any photostatic, photographic, miniature photographic, film, microfilm, or microphotographic process;

(2) Perforated tape, magnetic tape, or other magnetic means, electronic data processing or other electronic means, machine readable means, or graphic or video display.

Effective Date: 10-29-2003 .