An Act To Clarify the Use of Dedicated Funds for the Preservation of Deeds Records

Sec. 1. 33 MRSA §752, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 294, §1, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to January 1, 2006. Any county that has used the revenue from the records preservation surcharge imposed under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 33, section 752 after December 31, 2005 for a purpose other than restoration, re-creation or preservation shall return the revenue to the account established in Title 33, section 752, subsection 2.

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies that the records preservation surcharge may not be used for initial recording of documents. It requires any county that has used the dedicated surcharge for a purpose other than restoration, re-creation or preservation to return the revenue to its dedicated account. Any expenditures from the account must be authorized by the Register of Deeds to ensure the use for its intended purpose.