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UCC TIMELINE

This timeline outlines the history of UCC Article 9, from the 1700s, before the Uniform Law Commission existed, through the current state. It covers the inception and initial publication of the UCC as well as Article 9 amendments.

1700–
1950

Chattel mortgages are used for security interests in personal property. In the pre-electronic age, all lending is local. Chattel mortgage laws focus on local needs and are nonuniform from state to state.

1892

Uniform Law Commission formed

The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (now the Uniform Law Commission or ULC) is formed. The ULC later becomes a co-sponsor of the UCC.

1900s

Improved communication

Improved communication and payment systems gradually allow for geographic expansion of lending activities. Nonuniform chattel mortgage and other commercial laws become a hindrance.

1932

American Law Institute formed

The American Law Institute (ALI) is established. The ALI later joins the ULC to co-sponsor the UCC.

1942

Draft started

The ULC and ALI begin drafting the Uniform Commercial Code with the goal of establishing uniformity of commercial laws across all U.S. states.

1951

First text promulgated

The first official text of the Uniform Commercial Code is promulgated.

1952

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) is published, comprising nine articles covering general provisions and eight substantive areas of commercial law.

  1. General Provisions
  2. Sales
  3. Negotiable Instruments
  4. Bank Deposits
  5. Letters of Credit
  6. Bulk Transfers and Bulk Sales
  7. Warehouse Receipts, Bills of Lading, and Other Documents of Title
  8. Investment Securities
  9. Secured Transactions

Later, two more articles will be added: 2A, Leases and 4A, Funds Transfers.

Article 9, Secured Transactions

One of the most important articles—Article 9, Secured Transactions—governs security interests in personal property. Article 9 retains elements of the chattel mortgage system, including an option for local filing of UCC records.

1953

Pennsylvania adopts UCC

Pennsylvania becomes the first state to adopt the draft as state law, but a number of years pass before other states follow suit.

After the editorial board issues a revised code in 1956, Massachusetts and Kentucky adopt the UCC.

By the mid-1960s, most states have adopted the UCC. The last state to adopt the UCC is Louisiana, in 1990. [1] [2] [3]

1961

Permanent Editorial Board created

The Permanent Editorial Board (PEB) is created to monitor and revise the UCC as necessary. Later, the PEB role extends to include commentary on ambiguities not resolved by the code or official comments.

1962

Last full revision of the UCC

An improved version of the Uniform Commercial Code is released by the sponsors.

This version is enacted by a majority of states over the next few years.

It is also the last full revision of the Uniform Commercial Code. After this release, revisions occur with individual articles.

1972

Big changes to Article 9

The sponsors approve significant amendments to UCC Article 9 based on several years of experience with the 1962 text.

1990

UCC Article 9 requirements growing obsolete

UCC Article 9 requirements are growing obsolete due to computerization, banking deregulation, and increasing mobility of debtors and collateral. Nonuniform enactments of Article 9 and use of state-specific forms begin to complicate multistate transactions.

1991

PEB establishes drafting committee

The PEB establishes a drafting committee in the early ’90s to simplify and modernize Article 9.

The result of this effort, Revised Article 9, is eventually enacted in all 50 states, D.C., and some U.S. territories.

In a related effort, the Filing Project supplements the work of the Drafting Committee by developing forms and draft administrative rules for Revised Article 9.

The Filing Project is composed of various stakeholders, including filing officers, service companies, and other interested parties.

1998

Revised Article 9 promulgated

Revised Article 9 is promulgated. It includes a number of significant changes that affect the UCC search and filing process.

Revisions: Perfection

Revision clarifies when perfection can be accomplished by methods other than filing a financing statement.

Revisions: Choice of law

Under original UCC Article 9, the law of the state where the collateral is located governs perfection and priority. Thus, UCC records must generally be filed where the collateral is located.

Revised UCC Article 9 changes the governing law from the location of the collateral to the law of the state where the debtor is located.

After the effective date, UCC records generally must be filed where the debtor is located.

Revisions: Filing system

The official text of Revised Article 9 establishes a central filing office for most UCC records. All but two states, Georgia and Louisiana, designate a central filing office. The majority of states designate the secretary of state as the central filing office.

Revisions: Forms

For the first time, the UCC provides for safe harbor forms that are accepted by all filing offices nationwide.

2001

Revised Article 9 in most states

Revised Article 9 takes effect in most states on July 1, 2001.

Four states enact the law with delayed effective dates: Connecticut on October 1, 2001, and Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi on January 1, 2002.

Revised Article 9 includes a five-year transition period that begins July 1, 2001, during which secured parties can bring pre-effective date financing statements into compliance with the new debtor name and filing location rules.

When the transition period ends, all filed records not in compliance with Revised Article 9 become ineffective.

2003

Court cases for "correct debtor name"

The first reported court cases address the new rules for the “correct debtor name” under UCC § 9-503(a).

Courts consistently demonstrate that they are willing to tolerate harsh results for secured parties that fail to strictly comply with the correct debtor name requirements for financing statements.

2006

Revised Article 9 transition period ends

The five-year transition period comes to an end in most states on June 30, 2006. Pre-effective date financing statements not in compliance with Revised Article 9 cease to be effective on July 1, 2006.

2008

Joint Review Committee established

The PEB establishes a review committee to examine unresolved issues under Revised Article 9 and to make recommendations that might require changes to the official text.

The review committee quickly completes its work and submits a list of recommendations for issues to be addressed by a drafting committee.

The Joint Review Committee for Article 9 (JRC), essentially a drafting committee, is formed for the purpose of drafting changes to Article 9 text or comments as necessary to address the issues identified by the original review committee.

2009

JRC presents first draft

The JRC presents the first draft of the new amendments to Article 9 at the ULC annual meeting. The drafting process continues throughout the year.

2010

Final draft approved

The ALI and ULC approve the final draft of the amendments to UCC Article 9 at their annual meetings.

The 2010 Amendments mostly clarify, but do not change, the existing law. The most visible impact is on the UCC search and filing process.

Revisions: Definitions

Definition of “registered organization” is revised so that it refers to an entity created by the filing or issuance of a public organic record or the enactment of legislation.

Definition of “public organic record” is clarified to mean the source of a registered organization debtor name for purposes of the financing statement.

Revisions: Location of the debtor

Clarifies how a registered organization under federal law designates its location.

Revisions: Change in governing law

Creates a four-month grace period during which the secured party remains perfected in after-acquired collateral following a change in the governing law.

Revisions: Sufficiency of individual debtor names–Legislative Alternative A (“Only If” option)

The financing statement is sufficient only if it provides the individual name of the debtor indicated on the person’s unexpired driver’s license or, if state law allows, the state-issued ID card.

If the debtor lacks a document that meets those requirements, the financing statement is sufficient if it provides the individual name of the debtor or the surname and first personal name.

This is the version enacted by the vast majority of states.

Revisions: Sufficiency of individual debtor names–Legislative Alternative B (Safe Harbor option)

The financing statement is sufficient only if it provides the individual name of the debtor, the surname and first personal name of the debtor, or the name indicated on the debtor’s unexpired driver’s license or alternative ID card issued by the state where the record is to be filed.

Revisions: Forms

The form and format of written UCC records are revised to remove unnecessary data fields, accommodate the new individual debtor name rules, and make the forms more user-friendly.

Changes include rearranging the action checkboxes on the UCC-3 Amendment form to reduce the incidence of mistaken checks in the termination box.

2011

Bills introduced to enact 2010 Amendments

A number of states introduce the first bills to enact the 2010 Amendments to UCC Article 9.

The JRC and International Association of Commercial Administrators (IACA) approve a final version of the forms in April. The form images are inserted into the 2010 Amendments for future introductions of the legislation.

2012-
2013

Enactment process continues

The enactment process continues.

The IACA revises the UCC Model Administrative Rules (MARS) with updates to implement the 2010 Amendments.

2013

Amendments enacted in most states

By 2013, nearly all states have enacted the 2010 Amendments, most with an effective date of July 1.

Nonuniform versions

Some states adopt nonuniform versions of the 2010 Amendments.

Transition period

To preserve the effectiveness of pre-effective date records and to allow secured parties to bring affected records into compliance with the new requirements, the 2010 Amendments provide rules for an orderly transition.

The transition period begins in most states on the uniform effective date of July 1, 2013. In general, a secured party only needs to take action to remain perfected in certain specific cases.

2014

All but Oklahoma

All states except Oklahoma have the 2010 Amendments in effect before the end of 2014.

2015

Pending legislation

Oklahoma reintroduces legislation to enact the 2010 Amendments.

A few other states introduce measures with minor amendments to Article 9.

2018

Transition period ends

The transition period for the 2010 Amendments ends in most states on June 30, 2018.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

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This information is not intended to be legal advice. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this presentation without seeking the advice of an attorney.

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