A bill that could allow the Hamilton County register of deeds to build a new office passed the House on Thursday.
The House voted 91-5 to send a bill sponsored by Rep. Gerald McCormick, R-Chattanooga, to Gov. Phil Bredesen. The bill allows data-processing fees received by the register of deeds' office to be used for purposes directly related to the office if there is any money left over after the office buys computer equipment and software.
Register of Deeds Pam Hurst wants to use $400,000 in data processing funds that have built up over time to build a new office off Bonny Oaks Drive.
To pass, the bill requires two-thirds approval from the Hamilton County Commission. A similar bill passed last year but was voided after a mix-up that resulted in local approval not being given prior to the public act's expiration.
In another Rep. McCormick-sponsored bill, the House voted 82-11 to allow the register of deeds to collect a $2 submission fee for recording electronically filed documents. It also first would have to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the County Commission.
A legislative analysis estimates the bill would raise about $800 a year based on 2007-08 figures. But increased electronic filing would result in more money, the analysis points out.