ELECTRONIC SEAL ON DOCUMENTS S.B. 719 & 720:
FLOOR SUMMARY
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Senate Bills 719 and 720 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Jason E. Allen (S.B. 719)
Senator Wayne Kuipers (S.B. 720)
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
Senate Bill 719 would amend Public Act 198 of 1895, which relates to the sealing of deeds and other written instruments, to allow a seal required on certain documents to be affixed electronically. The Act provides that a seal of a court, public officer, or corporation may be impressed directly upon the instrument or writing to be sealed; upon wafer, wax, or other adhesive substance affixed to the instrument or writing; or upon paper or other similar substance affixed to the instrument or writing by an adhesive substance. Under the bill, a seal of a court, public officer, or corporation also could be affixed electronically either upon the instrument or writing or upon an electronic document.
Senate Bill 720 would amend Chapter 1 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, which is entitled, "Of the statutes". Chapter 1 provides that in all cases in which the seal of any court or public office is required to be affixed to any paper, the word "seal" must be construed to mean the impression of the seal on the paper alone as well as the impression of the seal affixed to it by means of a wafer or wax. Under the bill, "seal" also would mean the seal affixed electronically on the paper or affixed to an electronic document.
MCL 565.232 (S.B. 719) Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
8.3n (S.B. 720)
FISCAL IMPACT
The bills would result in indeterminate savings to the State and local units of government. No statewide data are available.
Date Completed: 10-21-09 Fiscal Analyst: Bill Bowerman
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb719&720/0910