SB522 Summary

• Secretary of State and judges of probate may refuse to accept for filing any document they reasonably believe to be materially false, fraudulent, or unlawfully issued, with the filer having 30 days to validate the document or face rejection.

• Secretary of State and judges of probate may remove and expunge from public records any document filed against a public employee or public official that they reasonably believe is materially false, fraudulent, or unlawfully issued, with written notice and a 30-day validation period provided to the filer.

• Establishes the crime of offering a false instrument for recording against a public employee or public official as a Class C felony, when the instrument relates to the property or contractual relationships of such official and is presented with intent to defraud, intimidate, harass, or impede the official's duties.

• Offering false instruments for recording generally (not specific to public employees) remains a Class A misdemeanor.

• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.