(a) General rule.--The department has the power and authority reasonably necessary to enable it to administer this subchapter efficiently and to perform the functions specified in section 132 (relating to functions of Department of State), in 13 Pa.C.S. (relating to commercial code) and in 17 Pa.C.S. (relating to credit unions). The following shall not be agency regulations for the purposes of section 612 of the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L.633, No.181), known as the Regulatory Review Act, or any similar provision of law, but shall be subject to the opportunity of public comment requirement under section 201 of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.769, No.240), referred to as the Commonwealth Documents Law:

(1) Sample filing forms promulgated by the department.

(2) Instructions accompanying sample filing forms and other explanatory material published in the Pennsylvania Code that is intended to substantially track applicable statutory provisions relating to the particular filing or to any of the functions of the department covered by this subsection, if a regulation of the department expressly states that those instructions or explanatory materials shall not have the force of law.

(3) Regulations, which the department is hereby authorized to promulgate, that:

(i) Authorize payment of fees and other remittances through or by a credit or debit card issuer or other financial intermediary.

(ii) Authorize contracts with credit or debit card issuers and other financial intermediaries relating to the collection, transmission and payment of fees and other remittances.

(iii) (Deleted by amendment).

(iv) Adjust, not more than once per year, the fees set forth in section 153(a) (relating to fee schedule) and 13 Pa.C.S. § 9525 (relating to fees) for filings transmitted to the department electronically.

(v) Relate to the format or means of delivering documents to the department for filing.

(vi) Specify the symbols or characters which:

(A) do not make a name distinguishable on the records of the department; or

(B) may be used in the name of an entity.

(b) Language and content of documents.--Except to the extent required in order to determine whether a document complies with section 135 (relating to requirements to be met by filed documents), the department shall not examine articles and other documents authorized or required to be filed in the department under this title to determine whether the language or content thereof conforms to the provisions of this title.

(c) Meaning of term "conform to law".--A document delivered to the department for the purpose of filing in the department shall be deemed to be in accordance with law and to conform to law, as those terms are used in statutes relating to the powers and duties of the department, if the document conforms to section 135.

(d) (Reserved).

(e) Engrossed certificate.--Whenever the department has taken any action under this title, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall, upon request and payment of the fee or additional fee therefor fixed by regulation of the department, issue to any person entitled thereto an engrossed certificate evidencing the action, executed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth under the seal of the Commonwealth.

(Dec. 19, 1990, P.L.834, No.198, eff. imd.; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.703, No.106, eff. 60 days; July 9, 2013, P.L.476, No.67, eff. 60 days; Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2640, No.172, eff. July 1, 2015)

2014 Amendment. Act 172 added subsec. (a)(3)(vi).

2013 Amendment. Act 67 amended subsecs. (a) and (d).

Cross References. Section 133 is referred to in sections 135, 202 of this title.