SB 326

Relating to Coosa County; to authorize the judge of probate to collect fees for the remote access of records maintained in the office of the judge of probate; and to provide for the disposition of the funds.

Section 1

(a) This section shall apply only in Coosa County. (b) The judge of probate of the county may charge and collect fees up to one dollar fifty cents ($1.50) or the equivalent of the regularly established photocopy fees, whichever is greater, for the remote access of records maintained in the office of the judge of probate. (c) Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited into a special fund of the judge of probate entitled the Probate Recording Fund. (d) Fees from the fund may be disbursed at the discretion of the judge of probate for records retention and archiving, records reconstruction, records preservation, records maintenance, including, but not limited to, scanning, photocopying, purchasing, maintaining, and operating recording equipment, and for the protection of records from environmental decay and damage. (e) All fees in the fund shall be audited by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts in the same manner as other funds.

Section 2

This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.