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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Mark A. Longietti |
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Longietti bill to set standards for electronic recording signed into law
HARRISBURG, July 5 – State Rep. Mark Longietti's bill that establishes uniform standards for county recorders of deeds to electronically record deeds, mortgages, leases and other property documents was signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett Thursday.
The bill overwhelmingly passed the state House Friday.
"Electronic recording of property documents must be done in an orderly way across the Commonwealth, and my legislation sets guidelines to ensure that happens," said Longietti, D-Mercer.
Under Longietti's legislation, a 13-member Electronic Recording Commission will establish the uniform standards. The commission will be comprised of eight recorders of deeds from various-sized counties, and appointees from the Department of State, Pennsylvania Bankers Association, Pennsylvania Association of Notaries, Pennsylvania Land Title Association and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. It will not require electronic recording and the new law specifies that paper documents may be used for recording.
The legislation was endorsed by the County Recorder of Deeds Association, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Notaries Association and the Pennsylvania Land Title Association.
"As recorders of deeds, we believe that now is the time to establish uniform standards for the electronic recording of these documents and H.B. 970 would achieve that objective," Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds Association President Nancy J. Becker wrote in a letter of support. "Such uniform standards would lead to increased efficiency and security in recording and would improve commerce."
Pennsylvania Land Title Association President Philip Janny said he expects the legislation to help state administrative agencies meet the demands of the public for quick identification of title ownership.
"It will also streamline the real estate transaction at a benefit to consumers and every facet of the real estate industry," Janny wrote in a letter of support.
At least 25 other states have adopted the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, and Longietti's law will help Pennsylvania recorder of deeds offices work with similar offices in those states.