Relates to establishing a standardized cover page fee to be charged by county clerks

2 Co-sponsors

• James L. Seward
• Dale M. Volker

Title of bill

An act to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to a standardized cover page fee to be charged by county clerks

Purpose

This bill would establish a standardized fee often dollars per cover page for any document submitted for recording in the county clerk's office in which such a fee is authorized or required.

Summary of provisions

Adds a new section 8018-a to the civil practice law and rules to authorize payment of a ten dollar cover page fee to the county clerk for any document submitted for recording that requires a cover page. No fee shall be charged for a cover page in any county clerk's office in which a cover page is not authorized or required.

Justification

This legislation would eliminate the confusion that currently exists as a result of different county clerk offices charging varying fees when they attach a cover page to recorded documents Equally as important, the provision of a statewide uniform cover page fee would provide revenue to enable county clerks to invest in new technologies, such as updating computers, for their offices and offset recent state actions that have reduced county clerk revenues, County clerk offices that are not authorized or required to impose a cover page fee would be exempt from the provisions of this act.

Legislative history

S.50/A.3247 of 2007/2008; Referred to Senate Codes Committee S.202-A/A.2680-A of 2005/2006; Referred to Senate Codes Committee S.4966/A.9059 of 2001/2002; Referred to Senate Codes Committee S.1515/A.1909 of 2003/2004; Referred to Senate Codes Committee

Fiscal implications

Additional revenue to county clerk offices.

Effective date

Immediately.