House Bill No. 422

Introduced By gillan, mcculloch

By Request of the Secretary of state



A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act eliminating the requirement that the original of certain documents filed by facsimile with the secretary of state be received by and filed with the secretary of state within 5 days of the receipt and filing of the facsimile; and amending sections 30-9-403, 30-9-431, 30-13-221, 30-13-341, 35-1-218, 35-2-120, 35-8-207, 35-10-112, 35-12-615, and 35-15-211, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."



Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:



Section 1.  Section 30-9-403, MCA, is amended to read:

"30-9-403.   What constitutes filing -- duration of filing -- fees -- effect of lapsed filing -- duties of filing officer -- computerized farm statement system. (1) (a) Presentation for filing of a financing statement and tender of the filing fee or acceptance of the statement by the filing officer constitutes filing under this chapter.

(b)  The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of 30-9-402 and subsection (1)(a), provided that the original document is received within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy of this section. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under subsection (1)(a) if it:

(i)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(ii) is legible and the same size as the original.

(c)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1)(b), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(d)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1)(b), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(e)(c)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document.

(2)  Except as provided in subsection (6), a filed financing statement is effective for a period of 5 years from the date of filing. The effectiveness of a filed financing statement lapses on the expiration of the 5-year period unless a continuation statement is filed prior to the lapse. If a security interest perfected by filing exists at the time insolvency proceedings are commenced by or against the debtor, the security interest remains perfected until 60 days after termination of the insolvency proceedings or until expiration of the 5-year period, whichever occurs later. Upon lapse the security interest becomes unperfected unless it is perfected without filing. If the security interest becomes unperfected upon lapse, it is considered to have been unperfected as against a person who became a purchaser or lien creditor before lapse.

(3)  A continuation statement may be filed by the secured party within 6 months prior to the expiration of the 5-year period specified in subsection (2). Any continuation statement must be signed by the secured party, identify the original statement by file number, and state that the original statement is still effective. A continuation statement signed by a person other than the secured party of record must be accompanied by a separate written statement of assignment signed by the secured party of record and complying with 30-9-405(2), including payment of the required fee. Upon timely filing of the continuation statement, the effectiveness of the original statement is continued for 5 years after the last date to which the filing was effective, after which it lapses in the same manner as provided in subsection (2) unless another continuation statement is filed prior to the lapse. Succeeding continuation statements may be filed in the same manner to continue the effectiveness of the original statement. Unless a statute on disposition of public records provides otherwise, the filing officer may remove a lapsed statement from the files and destroy it immediately if the filing officer has retained a microfilm or other photographic record or a record produced according to rules adopted by the secretary of state, or, in other cases after 1 year after the lapse, upon approval by the local government records destruction subcommittee provided for in 2-6-403. The filing officer shall arrange matters by physical annexation of financing statements to continuation statements or other related filings, or by other means, that if the filing officer physically destroys the financing statements of a period more than 5 years past, those which that have been continued by a continuation statement or which that are still effective under subsection (6) shall must be retained.

(4)  Except as provided in subsection (7), a filing officer shall mark each statement with a file number and with the date and hour of filing. The filing officer shall hold the statement or a microfilm or other photographic copy or a copy produced according to rules adopted by the secretary of state for public inspection. In addition, the filing officer shall index the statements according to the name of the debtor and shall note in the index the file number and the address of the debtor given in the statement.

(5)  The uniform fees for filing, indexing, and stamping a copy furnished by the filing party to show the date and place of filing must be set pursuant to subsection (12).

(6)  If the debtor is a transmitting utility and a filed financing statement so states, it is effective until a termination statement is filed. A real estate mortgage that is effective as a fixture filing under 30-9-402(6) remains effective as a fixture filing until the mortgage is released or satisfied of record or its effectiveness otherwise terminates as to the real estate.

(7)  When a financing statement covers timber to be cut or covers minerals or the like (including oil and gas) or accounts subject to 30-9-103(5) or is filed as a fixture filing, the filing officer shall index it under the names of the debtor and any owner of record shown on the financing statement in the same fashion as if they were the mortgagors in a mortgage of the real estate described and, to the extent that the law of this state provides for indexing of mortgages under the name of the mortgagee, under the name of the secured party as if the secured party were the mortgagee under the financing statement or, if indexing is by description, in the same fashion as if the financing statement were a mortgage of the real estate described.

(8)  When a financing or continuation statement filed by a financial institution covers farm products or accounts, livestock, general intangibles arising from or relating to the sale of farm products by a farmer, crops growing or to be grown, or equipment used in farming operations, the fee for filing must be established by the secretary of state in an amount commensurate with the costs of establishing and operating the computerized access system described in subsection (9).

(9)  Within 1 working day of receipt of a financing or continuation statement, the secretary of state shall record the information contained in the statement on a centralized computer system that the secretary of state shall establish. The computer system must allow access to financing statement information by any type of communications which that conform to standards used by the state central computer. The system must have safeguards to allow only access to UCC data and to prevent alteration, addition, or deletion of the UCC data. The computer must be accessible whenever the state computer system is available. A perfected security interest is not created until the financing statement information is recorded on the system. A printout of information from the system is prima facie evidence of the existence or nonexistence of the filing of a financing statement. The secretary of state shall maintain adequate errors and omissions liability coverage to protect against input errors causing loss to a secured party.

(10) The secretary of state shall, upon request of a clerk and recorder, mail a certified copy of a financing statement, continuation statement, assignment, amendment, or termination covering collateral described in subsection (8) to the clerk and recorder in the county of the principal debtor's residence. The secretary of state shall mail the requested copies at least once each week. This subsection does not require the secretary of state to mail a copy of any document which that does not specifically indicate the county of the principal debtor's residence on its face.

(11) Financing statement information in the computer system constitutes public writings within the meaning of 2-6-101, but the information may not be used to compile mailing lists.

(12) The secretary of state, with advice from the county clerk and recorders, shall by administrative rule establish fees as required by this part. The fees must be commensurate with the costs of processing the documents. The secretary of state shall maintain records sufficient to support the amounts of the fees established under this subsection. The secretary of state shall deposit all fees in the enterprise fund in the state treasury. The secretary of state shall disseminate the uniform fee schedule to the county clerk and recorders for their use."



Section 2.  Section 30-9-431, MCA, is amended to read:

"30-9-431.   Filing of a facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this part and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this part, provided that he receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 3.  Section 30-13-221, MCA, is amended to read:

"30-13-221.   Filing of a facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this part and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this part, provided that he receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 4.  Section 30-13-341, MCA, is amended to read:

"30-13-341.   Filing of a facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this part and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this part, provided that he receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 5.  Section 35-1-218, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-1-218.   Facsimile filing -- requirements -- liability. (1) The secretary of state shall treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required or permitted to be filed under this chapter and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this chapter provided that the secretary of state receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy.

(2)  A facsimile copy is entitled to be filed under this section if it is:

(a)  produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter; and

(b)  legible and the same size as the original.

(3)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(4)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(5)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to an aggrieved party for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 6.  Section 35-2-120, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-2-120.   Facsimile filing. (1) The secretary of state shall treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required or permitted to be filed under 35-2-119, 35-2-121 through 35-2-123, 35-2-1003, 35-2-1108 through 35-2-1112, and this section and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of 35-2-119, 35-2-121 through 35-2-123, 35-2-1003, 35-2-1108 through 35-2-1112, and this section provided that the secretary of state receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy.

(2)  A facsimile copy is entitled to be filed under this section if it is:

(a)  produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter; and

(b)  legible and the same size as the original.

(3)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(4)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(5)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to an aggrieved party for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 7.  Section 35-8-207, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-8-207.   Filing of facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this chapter and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this chapter, provided that the secretary of state receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 8.  Section 35-10-112, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-10-112.   Facsimile filing -- requirements -- liability. (1) The secretary of state shall treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required or permitted to be filed under this chapter and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this chapter provided that the secretary of state receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy.

(2)  A facsimile copy is entitled to be filed under this section if it is:

(a)  produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter; and

(b)  legible and the same size as the original.

(3)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(4)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(5)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to an aggrieved party for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 9.  Section 35-12-615, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-12-615.   Filing of a facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this chapter and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this chapter, provided that he receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



Section 10.  Section 35-15-211, MCA, is amended to read:

"35-15-211.   Filing of a facsimile copy. (1) The secretary of state may treat a facsimile copy of a document that is required to be filed under this chapter and the signatures on the facsimile copy in the same manner as an original for purposes of this chapter, provided that he receives the original document within 5 working days of the receipt of the facsimile copy. If all other requirements are met, the date of filing relates back to the date of receipt of the facsimile copy. A facsimile copy may be filed under this section if it:

(a)  is produced by a method of transmission of images in which the image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on paper at the receiving station; and

(b)  is legible and the same size as the original.

(2)  During the 5-day period referred to in subsection (1), the recorded facsimile copy constitutes constructive notice for all purposes of the original document.

(3)  If the original document is not received within 5 working days of receipt of the facsimile copy as provided in subsection (1), the filing of the facsimile copy is void.

(4)(2)  A person who files a false document by facsimile copy is liable to the party aggrieved for three times the amount of damages resulting from the filing of the false document."



NEW SECTION. SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. [THIS ACT] IS EFFECTIVE ON PASSAGE AND APPROVAL.

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