Sec. 17. (a) As used in this section:

     “Book” means a book, register, index, or file that the law requires a county recorder to maintain.

     “Electronic storage medium” means a magnetic tape, card, diskette, disk, or other medium on which data may be entered and retained and from which data may be retrieved by the operation of an electronic data processing system.

     “Recorded information” means information in any written matter, such as a record, document, plat, or paper, that the law requires a recorder to enter into a book.

     (b) The county recorder may substitute an electronic storage medium for any book. For the purposes of admissibility into evidence, printouts or other types of information retrieved from an electronic storage medium in written form shall be treated as an official record in all courts and administrative agencies.

     (c) When the recorder substitutes an electronic storage medium for a book, the recorder shall operate a data processing system that during normal business hours allows:

(1) retrieval of recorded information by reference to the same identification number assigned to the written matter that has been recorded, the written matter’s date of recording, the name of affected parties, the legal description of affected real property (if any), and any other category of information that the law requires the recorder to maintain in a related index or file; and

(2) reproduction of recorded information in written form.

     (d) The recorder shall enter the identification number assigned by the recorder to a recorded matter with the related recorded information being entered into the electronic storage medium. The recorder shall verify the correctness of all recorded information entered into the electronic storage medium and assign security access codes to it that will protect it from alteration. An original of recorded matter may not be returned to the person submitting it before certification and security coding occur.

     (e) At intervals determined by the recorder, the recorder shall duplicate the data on an electronic storage medium containing recorded information and permanently store one (1) copy outside the office of the recorder in a secure location that is designated by the county executive and under the exclusive custody and control of the recorder. If either copy is lost or damaged, the recorder may use the other copy to perform his duties.

As added by P.L.193-1984, SEC.1.