(a) Upon approval by resolution of the board of supervisors and system certification by the Attorney General, a county recorder may establish an electronic recording delivery system.

(b) Upon system certification, a county recorder may enter into a contract with a title insurer as defined in § 12340.4 of the Insurance Code, underwritten title company as defined in § 12340.5 of the Insurance Code, institutional lender as defined in paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of subdivision (j) of § 50003 of the Financial Code, or an entity of local, state, or federal government for the delivery for recording, and return to the party requesting recording, of a digital or digitized electronic record that is an instrument to be recorded consistent with subdivision (a) of Section 27201. The contract may provide for the delivery of documents by an agent. However, the agent shall not be a vendor of electronic recording delivery systems.

(c) (1) A county recorder may enter into a contract with an authorized submitter not authorized pursuant to subdivision (b) for the delivery for recording, and return to the party requesting recording, of a digital or digitized electronic record that is an instrument to be recorded consistent with subdivision (a) of Section 27201. The contract may provide for the delivery of documents by an agent. However, the agent shall not be a vendor of electronic recording delivery systems.

(2) An authorized submitter authorized pursuant to this subdivision and any agent submitting documents on behalf of an authorized submitter pursuant to this subdivision shall provide proof of financial responsibility by providing a certificate of insurance evidencing an amount of general liability coverage reasonably adequate to protect against liability and cover potential losses. The amount of general liability coverage required by this paragraph shall be set through rule or regulation by the Attorney General in consultation with interested parties.

(d) A county recorder may refuse to enter into a contract with any party or may terminate or suspend access to a system for any good faith reason, including, but not limited to, a determination by the county recorder that termination or suspension is necessary to protect the public interest, to protect the integrity of public records, or to protect homeowners from financial harm, or if the volume or quality of instruments submitted by the requester is not sufficient to warrant electronic recordation. A county recorder may also terminate or suspend access to a system if a party commits a substantive breach of the contract, the requirements of this article, or the regulations adopted pursuant to this article.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 27321, a county recorder may require a party electronically submitting records to mail a copy of the recorded electronic document to the address specified in the instructions for mailing upon completion of recording.

(f) When a signature is required to be accompanied by a notary’s seal or stamp, that requirement is satisfied if the electronic signature of the notary contains all of the following:

(1) The name of the notary.

(2) The words “Notary Public.”

(3) The name of the county where the bond and oath of office of the notary are filed.

(4) The sequential identification number assigned to the notary, if any.

(5) The sequential identification number assigned to the manufacturer or vendor of the notary’s physical or electronic seal, if any.

(g) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 380, Sec. 3. (AB 2143) Effective January 1, 2017. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, by its own provisions. See later operative version added by Sec. 4 of Stats. 2016, Ch. 380.)