BRB's Public Records Blog

Connecticut DPS Increases Record Fees

Effective October 1, 2009, the Division of State Police, part of Connecticut's Department of Public Safety, doubled the fees for criminal record checks and accident reports.

The fee for a criminal record check increased from $25.00 to $50.00 per request, be it a name search or fingerprint search. Please note, the actual fingerprinting for the criminal record checks must be completed by a law enforcement agency.  The fee for fingerprints taken by the DPS State Police Bureau of Identification DPS is an additional $15.00.

The fee for an Accident report increased from $8.00 to $16.00; add $1.00 for a certified record. Note, the agency web page does not use the words accident report or crash report and refers to these reports as State Police Reports.

The DPS home page is www.ct.gov/dps/site/default.asp.

Fee Increases for Alabama Vital Records

Effective October 1, 2009, the fees for copies of vital records will increase from $12.00 to $16.00 per record and from $4.00 to $6.00 for a second copy. Also, the fee for expedited service will increase, from $10.00 to $15.00.

Where to Find Federal and State Tax Liens in Oklahoma

Federal tax liens on personal property of businesses are filed with the County Clerk of Oklahoma County, which is the central filing office for the state. Other federal and all state tax liens are filed with the County Clerk. Usually state and federal tax liens on personal property are filed in separate indexes, state liens on businesses or individuals usually in the real estate index. Some counties will perform tax lien searches; tax lien search fees vary.

© excerpt from The Sourcebook to Public Record Information

Fee Increase for Records at South Dakota's Secretary of State Office

Effective July 1, 2009, an increase will occur for many of the filing, registration, and record access fees on records overseen by the South Dakota Secretary of State. For example, expedited service for filing of record copies increases from $20.00 to $50.00; certified copies of records increases from $10.00 plus $1.00 per page to $15.00 plus $1.00 per page; a Certificate of Good Standing or Existence increases from $$15.00 to $20.00.

Other areas affected include registration or statements of corporations, business trusts, general partnerships, limited liability partnerships; filings of UCCs; and the registration, renewal, or assignment of trademarks.

For a complete list of all fees with increases see
www.sdsos.gov/adminservices/filingfees.shtm

Minnesota Increases Certain Court Fees

As of July 1st, 2009, a number of fee increases will take place involving the Minnesota Court System. Most of the specified increases affect filings of civil cases, marriage dissolution actions, and the filing of motions or responses. However, there are two fees which will affect record access. The fee for a non-certified copy of any instrument from a civil or criminal proceeding increases from $5.00 to $8.00, and the fee for a certified copy increases from $10.00 to $14.00.

Finding a copy of all the fee increases is tricky. Go to www.leg.state.mn.us/, click on Statutes, Laws and Rules, then click on 2009 Session Laws, and finally on Chapter 83. This will bring up the bill in its entirety. Look for Article 2 and the Amendment to section 357.021, subdivision 2.

New Hampshire Court Search Fees to Signficantly Increase

We learned that the NH Administrative Office of Courts, through administrative rule, is mandating a significant increase in many court fees, effective August 1st. For example, the current fee for searching civil or criminal records will increase from a  flat $10.00 fee for up to 9 names, and $25.00 for 10 or more names to the following fee structure: $20.00 for each of the first 5 names, then $5.00 per name afterword.  Following the new guidelines, if 9 names are ordered the fee is now $120. It used to be $10.00. Thanks to the folks at County House Research Inc. in Philadelphia for alerting us to this situation.

BRB Publications Launches New Web Page www.verifyprolicense.com Providing Access to State Licensing Boards

BRB Publications annouced today a new website that enables the public to verify individuals and businesses required to be licensed or have a certification or registration.

This free, new resource enables a researcher to check the representations people make to the public in day-to-day personal or business life. Users of www.verifyprolicense.comcan choose an occupation or business category, by state, to find the direct address, phone number, and web page of the licensing or certification board. The resulting screen also provides a hot link to a License Validator to verify the license, permit, and registration information for individuals and or businesses. Another valuable feature of the search is that it often indicates when disciplinary action has been taken against an individual or business. This site is updated weekly and includes over 8,000 occupations with over 4,500 "name searchable" links providing immediate results.

According to BRB Publication’s CEO Michael Sankey, "Professional occupational licensing and non-voluntary certifications and registrations are generally a matter of public record, intended to protect the public from fraud and the misrepresentations of qualifications. It is simply a smart business practice to check on those with whom you deal, particularly if strangers come into a home, or if money and property are involved."

Also, the new website is dedicated to educating the public about The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E. (Consumer Awareness of Unsafe Service Employment).

About the Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E.
On August 27, 2001, Sue Weaver was brutally raped and beaten to death by a twice convicted sex-offender. Ms. Weaver’s attacker was hired through a major department store to do service work in her home. In memory of Sue Weaver, C.A.U.S.E. was founded in 2004 as a non-profit organization that brings awareness and education to consumers and employers regarding the necessity of criminal background checks on all service employees, contractors and subcontractors hired to work in or near clients’ homes. For more information about C.A.U.S.E. visit www.sueweavercause.org.

Fee to Record Documents in Iowa Increases

Effective July 1, 2009, the electronic transaction fee to record most documents at an Iowa county recorder’s office will increase from $1.00 to $3.00 per record transaction. The purpose of the fee increase is to pay for the redaction of Social Security Numbers from records obtained at www.iowalandrecords.org. The fee does not apply to a military separation or discharge record, a birth record, a death certificate, or marriage certificate unless such record or certificate is incorporated within another document or instrument that is recorded and displayed for public access on a website. The fee is scheduled to stay in effect until June 30, 2011 when the fee will be reduced by $2.00.  The fee increase is part of Senate File 465 - see SF 465 at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/index.html.

Wisconsin Driver License Status Check

Check the status of a Wisconsin driver license free at www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/online.htm. The status can be requested using the DL, or by SSN/DOB, or name/sex/DOB.

 
© excerpt from The 2009 MVR Book

Workers' Compensation Records

Every state has an agency that administrates workers’ compensation cases. There is no national database of records. Workers' compensation benefits are paid to people who have suffered an injury during the performance of their jobs. Workers’ compensation records will contain the date of the incident, employer, insurance company, type of injury, body part injured, time lost, and if there is a job-related disability. Obviously, these records are useful in background investigations and fraud cases. However, most records are considered to be confidential or at least certain portions of each case file are. They’re usually only released to parties involved in a case or by subpoena. Generally what is considered public record by some states is limited to determining if a subject has filed a claim, and decision, award or order in a disputed case.

One reason records are confidential is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This act prohibits state workers’ compensation boards from disclosing information as part of the pre-employment screening process. Per the ADA, a review of workers’ compensation histories may only be conducted after a conditional job offer has been made and when medical information is reviewed. However, the ability to conduct this type of review is still subject to individual state statutes, which vary widely and can be stricter than the ADA. For example, Nevada disallows a record search for post-hire purposes.

States that release at least a portion of workers' compensation files to the public are California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. In most other states, a signed release is necessary or even a subpoena.

Several state offer online access to some information. In Florida, access to the claims history database is provided online at www.fldfs.com/wc/databases.html, all personal information has been redacted. Case status for Illinois cases at shown at www.iwcc.il.gov. In Nebraska, workers’ comp record requests may be made at https://www.nebraska.gov/WC/records.phtml. Unless specifically requested, responses will be limited to first and subsequent reports filed within the last five (5) years.

© excerpt from The Public Record Research TIPS Book