Legislature(1995 - 1996)
1996-02-09 House Journal
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Full Journal pdf1996-02-09 House Journal Page 2694 HB 491 was read the first time and referred to the Resources, Judiciary and Finance Committees. The following fiscal note applies: Indeterminate fiscal note, Dept. of Natural Resources, 2/9/96 The Governor's transmittal letter, dated February 9, 1996, appears below: Dear Speaker Phillips: Under the authority of art. III, sec 18, of the Alaska Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to changes in state recording laws administered by the Department of Natural Resources. This bill clarifies the criteria for the recording of documents by the department and provides changes to improve the efficiency of the recording function, a service that is provided to all Alaskans through recording offices located in fourteen rural and urban locations across the state. Comprehensive changes were made to recording laws in 1988. A number of provisions were consolidated and a classification system identifying documents eligible for recording was enacted. In practice, this system has required significant staffing time to determine whether a document offered for recording falls within one or more of the specific statutory classifications. Further, because of the ambiguities in the current recording statutes, recording staff have frequently had to step beyond mere ministerial functions when processing documents in an effort to apply the current cumbersome statutory language. The changes proposed in this bill permit the recording of any document that meets the minimum requirements necessary. Additional specific acceptance requirements apply only to a limited number of documents, such as conveyances and subdivision plats. Some minor changes regarding filings under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) are also addressed. The bill adds a provision requiring the maintenance of a central office within the Department of Natural Resources for the filing of secured transaction documents under the UCC.