45-502. Use of standard size paper for documents filed with state agencies and courts. (a) All state agencies and all courts of this state shall permit the filing of documents and pleadings, which are required, authorized or permitted by law, on standard size forms or paper and shall not require the filing of documents and pleadings on legal size forms or paper.

(b) On and after July 1, 1990, subject to the other provisions of this section, all documents and pleadings which are required, authorized or permitted by law to be filed with a state agency or a court of this state shall be filed on standard size forms or paper and legal size forms and paper shall not be used for that purpose.

(c) This section does not prohibit the use or filing of:

(1) Forms larger than standard size, if the forms are to be used for maintenance of accounting or bookkeeping records, for preparation of architectural or engineering drafts or documents, or for preparation of maps, graphs, charts or artwork;

(2) fan-fold paper designed for use in computer peripheral devices and forms, bond paper or legal pads which are perforated or otherwise designed to produce complete documents not larger than standard size;

(3) public records smaller than standard size, computer generated printouts, output from test measurements and diagnostic equipment, machine generated paper tapes, charts, graphs, tables, maps, diplomas, artwork and public records otherwise required to be nonstandard size or exempt by law;

(4) documents or pleadings authorized or permitted by any court of this state to be filed on nonstandard size forms or paper in order to avoid unnecessary cost or delay or to promote justice; or

(5) documents required by the federal government to be nonstandard size.

(d) Upon written application of any state agency, the secretary of administration may approve additional exemptions from the requirements of this section if, based upon such application, the secretary finds that the cost of compliance with such requirements is so great as to not be in the best interests of the state.

(e) Upon written application of any court of this state, the supreme court may approve additional exemptions from the requirements of this section if, based upon such application, the supreme court finds that compliance with such requirements would be contrary to the effective administration of justice.

(f) Each state agency and court of this state shall use its store of paper supplies, that exceed standard size and that are on hand on the effective date of this act, until such store of supplies is exhausted. The secretary of administration and the director of printing shall provide assistance in form analysis and design to any state agency on request to assist in complying with the provisions of this act.

(g) As used in this section:

(1) "Standard size" means 8 1/2 x 11 inches or 21.59 x 27.94 centimeters.

(2) "State agency" means any state office, department, institution, commission, board or authority of this state.

History: L. 1988, ch. 324, § 1; July 1.