Uniform Laws and Model Acts
Uniform Laws are carefully drafted model laws for potential enactment by state legislatures. State legislatures can reject them, enact them in entirety, or enact them with modifications.
Uniform Laws are authored by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (“NCCUSL”), a group that aims to promote uniformity of state law. Since its founding in 1892, NCCUSL has drafted over 200 Uniform Laws.
Model Acts and Model Codes are similar to Uniform Laws but may be proposed by any individual or organization including the American Bar Association, the American Law Institute, and NCCUSL. In comparison to Uniform Laws, Model Acts are generally used as a basis for designing state laws. They are rarely enacted in entirety.
Print Sources
Uniform Laws Annotated KF 165.A5
Most complete collection of Uniform and Model Acts, Codes, and Rules. Contains the text of Uniform and Model Laws adopted by at least one state. Includes comments from drafters, tables of adopting jurisdictions with citations and effective dates, variations in text as adopted, case annotations, and secondary source references. An index in pamphlet form sits at the end of the set. Updated annually.
Uniform Commercial Code KF 890.W45
The UCC with analysis and case annotations. Treatise-style, multi-volume work.
Model Business Corporation Act Annotated KF 1404.52.A654x
The Model Business Corporation Act with comments, case annotations, and secondary source references. 4 volume looseleaf.
Model Penal Code KF 9219.A743
The Model Penal Code with explanatory notes. Updated by pocket parts.
Westlaw
Uniform Laws Annotated (Westlaw password required)
Online equivalent to the print set mentioned above. Contains the most complete set of Uniform and Model Acts, Codes and Rules. Updated after the annual meetings of NCCUSL in July and the American Law Institute in May.
Each section or rule is an individual document. It is not possible to view an entire Uniform Law or Model Act online at once, but using the Tables of Contents mode within this database allows browsing and the use of check boxes to "Retrieve & Print" entire acts or certain portions. (Use Retrieve & Print to email or download as well.)
Retrieving a specific section of a Uniform Law or Model Act with "Find" is problematic. Citation format varies widely. Consult "Citation Formats" in the scope note to determine the retrieving format for each.
LexisNexis
Selected Uniform Laws and Model Acts as published by Martindale-Hubbell are available on LexisNexis. See this portion of the source directory to determine which are available. (LexisNexis ID required) There are no annotations. Each section or rule is an individual document. It is not possible to view an entire Uniform Law or Model Act at once in this source. Updated annually.
Web
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
Offers the text of uniform laws, summaries, related documents, previous drafts, as well as bill tracking for those states considering uniform laws. This page also offers the NCCUSL drafting manual, meeting information, proposed projects, and updates on state actions related to Uniform Laws. (Note that previous drafts are not always available. They can be found in the Archive Publications microfiche set mentioned below.)
NCCUSL Uniform Laws from the University of Pennsylvania
In conjunction with NCCUSL, the University of Pennsylvania offers the final versions of Uniform Laws. Most are available in pdf, WordPerfect, ASCII, and html. Prefatory notes are included.
- Uniform Law Locators from the Legal Information Institute
Provide the text of Uniform Laws as originally promulgated along with links to corresponding state statutes. - Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Probate Code
Uniform Rules of Evidence
Uniform Matrimonial and Family Laws (various)
Uniform Business and Financial Laws (various)
Draft Status of Uniform Laws and Model Acts
NCCUSL
Use the pulldown menu to retrieve any act. Status information is provided as well as contact information for drafting Commissioners.
NCCUSL Drafts of Uniform and Model Acts
Drafts in progress are listed here, for both new Uniform Laws and amendments to existing ones. Previous drafts and related documents are usually available.
Drafting History of Uniform Laws and Model Acts--"Legislative History"
The drafting process for a Uniform Law takes at least two years; some have taken 15 years. There is usually a series of drafts before a final draft is adopted. These successive drafts, along with transcripts of proceedings from the annual meeting and the prefatory notes preceding the final act, provide something akin to a legislative history for uniform laws.
Archive Publications of NCCUSL Microforms KF 165.A35, Drawer 767
This set of microfiche contains the archives of NCCUSL since 1930. It includes successive drafts of each Uniform or Model Law, the proceedings of NCCUSL's annual meeting since 1892, and transcripts of the discussions in the Committee of the Whole for each Uniform and Model Act. It is arranged alphabetically by act (ignoring Uniform) and within acts, chronologically.
Handbook of the National Conference of Commissioner on Uniform State Laws KF 165.A2N38 and in microfiche set above
This annual publication describes the drafting activities of NCCUSL and contains transcripts of the proceedings at its annual conference. There is a lag time of approximately 8-10 years between the annual meeting and publication of the proceedings.
NCCUSL Archives at Biddle Law Library, University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania Law School Library holds the NCCUSL archives including reports, correspondence, memoranda, and other documents related to the activities and drafting efforts of NCCUSL. See this collection description. Those doing in-depth research on drafting history whose questions are not answered by the Archive Publications materials may want to consult this collection.