Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division OFFICIAL Government website

eGovernment Plans and Successes

The Corporation Division strives to be the model for electronic government in Oregon. Our approach to 'eGovernment' includes listening to the needs and comments of our customers in the business community and collaborating with other government agencies to build systems that deliver services over the Internet.

We are proud of our current 'eGovernment' successes. These systems and applications have dramatically increased the public's access to information about Oregon's businesses, and streamlined access to government services and regulatory requirements for business, while reducing or controlling the division's operational costs.

Recent 'eGovernment' successes

Business Name Search (2001)
The public can search the Business Registry database online by business name. Over 250,000 online business name searches are completed every month. Previously, the public had to request this information over the phone from our call center, during business hours. Now, the public can access business registry information online, at their convenience. As a result of the online Business Name Search, calls to our call center have dropped significantly, allowing us to reduce call center staff by over 50%.

UCC Search (2001)
The public can search our online Uniform Commercial Code system for information about public records of debt filed with the Secretary of State's office. Liens and financing statements filed with the office are imaged, and the image and the data record are available through the UCC search system. Previously, the public had to pay a $15 fee for each of these searches to be completed manually by our staff. Today over 21,000 online UCC searches are completed every month, free of charge.

E-Pay (2002)
The Secretary of State was chosen as the pilot agency to work with the Department of Administrative Services in building an electronic commerce system for state government. The e-Pay system began accepting customer transactions in November 2002 for Business Registration Renewals, allowing business owners to renew their business registration online with a credit card. E-Pay will be incorporated into other new online systems as they are built, allowing even more transactions to be handled over the Internet. As a direct result of this collaborative development effort, other state agencies can now incorporate the e-Pay system into their 'eGovernment' efforts.

Business Wizard (2003)
The Business Wizard is an Internet tool, featured in the State's Business Information Center, to provide business owners with a customized referral list of government licensing, registration, and regulatory information, based on business activity and location. Business owners complete a few brief questions and are provided with a detailed list of information about government requirements for their business. Each referral provides detailed links to government agencies, forms, regulations and services. The referral list can be saved to the computer desktop for future use and reference and used as a unique and personalized government navigation tool.

Planned eGovernment developments
Our track record of providing consistently effective and reliable 'eGovernment' tools positions the Secretary of State's office to offer additional electronic services to Oregon's business community. The following are offered to familiarize you with our immediate 'eGovernment' plans and goals. Implementation timelines are being developed and are dependent on the availability of staffing and budget resources.

Central Business Registry
The Central Business Registry is a multi-agency effort that will become the premier 'One-stop' shop, allowing business owners to license and register with all required state agencies from a single online application. Information submitted by the business will be shared with the appropriate government agencies, eliminating the need to file a separate registration form with each agency.

E-Filing for Business Registry
Business Registry e-filing will automate the process of registering Assumed Business Names and business entities, like Corporations and Limited Liability Companies, by allowing the customer to file over the Internet. Business owners will be able to access and update registration information through a secure, password-protected site.

E-Filing for UCC
Uniform Commercial Code e-filing will automate the process of filing UCC documents with the Secretary of State's office. Secured Parties will file documents directly through an Internet-based filing system.

Online Notary Education
The online Notary tutorial program will allow new and renewing notaries to complete a 3-hour computer based training program designed to help Notaries gain the knowledge necessary to prevent and deter fraud through the notary process. The tutorial will be offered as a free online service, and also include an online version of the test that Notaries must pass to receive their 4-year commission.

Online Business Certificates
Businesses have to provide proof that they are properly registered with the Secretary of State's office when opening a business banking account or conducting other business transactions. Today, these paper certificates are available through our office for $10 each. Requests are taken over the phone and completed certificates are mailed to the customer. The online version of the certificate will be purchased and printed online and will include a unique serial number to allow for verification and authenticity of the certificate.

We hope that you find our online services to be convenient, easy to use, and a valuable government service. We place a high value on the feedback and suggestions of our customers, and encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions regarding these plans along with other suggestions you may have for improving the electronic delivery of government services to Oregon's business community.