1. (a) Unless an application for a certificate of title is rejected under subsection (c) or (d), the office shall create a certificate for the vessel in accordance with subsection (b) after delivery to it of an application that complies with Section 33-5B-7 and the applicable fee.
2. (b) If the office creates electronic certificates of title, the office shall create an electronic certificate unless in the application the secured party of record or, if none, the owner of record, requests that the office create a written certificate.

3. (c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d), the office may reject an application for a certificate of title only if:

   1. (1) the application does not comply with Section 33-5B-7;
   2. (2) the application does not contain documentation sufficient for the office to determine whether the applicant is entitled to a certificate;
   3. (3) there is a reasonable basis for concluding that the application is fraudulent or issuance of a certificate would facilitate a fraudulent or illegal act; or
   4. (4) the application does not comply with the law of this state other than this chapter.
4. (d) The office shall reject an application for a certificate of title for a vessel that is a documented vessel or a foreign-documented vessel.

5. (e) The office may cancel a certificate of title created by it only if the office:

   1. (1) could have rejected the application for the certificate under subsection (c);
   2. (2) is required to cancel the certificate under another provision of this chapter; or
   3. (3) receives satisfactory evidence that the vessel is a documented vessel or a foreign-documented vessel.

(Act 2022-144, §8.)