§32-20-3. Powers and duties of department.

(a) The department shall prescribe and provide suitable forms of applications, certificates of title, notices of security interests, and all other notices and forms necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(b) The department may do any of the following:

(1) Make necessary investigations to procure information required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(2) Adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this chapter, including rules that allow alternative methods of proof of satisfaction of liens.

(3) Assign a new identification number to a manufactured home if it has none, or its identification number is destroyed or obliterated and shall issue a new certificate of title showing the new identification number.

(4) Revoke the authority of a dealer or other person appointed by the department to act as a designated agent under this chapter when it finds that the dealer or other person has failed to faithfully perform his or her duties under this chapter or has been convicted of violating any felony provisions of this chapter or of Title 40.

(c) The department, in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentially statutes, rules, and regulations, may make available information concerning the status of a title on any manufactured home as reflected by the records in a manner prescribed by the department. Such information supplied by the department shall be considered official only if in writing. The department shall charge the fees set forth in Section 32-20-4; provided, that no fee shall be charged Alabama law enforcement agencies or law enforcement agencies of any other state when the state furnishes like or similar information without charge to the department or to Alabama law enforcement agencies.

(d) Whenever this chapter provides that a written certificate or other document is to be filed with the department, the commissioner may establish procedures for and accept in lieu of such paper document a filing made by electronic means. The department may also establish procedures for the electronic transfer of title and the recording and release of security interests. Such filing or transfer by electronic means shall be accepted only if the content of the filing satisfies all of the requirements of this chapter.

(Act 2009-746, p. 2236, §4.)