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Fourth Substitute S.B. 22

Representative Ron Bigelow proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
NOTARY PUBLIC AMENDMENTS

             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

             5     
House Sponsor: Fred R Hunsaker

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Notaries Public Reform Act.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    authorizes a notary to complete a certificate that includes the name and date of the
             13      person whose signature is being certified;
             14          .    authorizes a person licensed to practice law in this state to perform a notarial act;
             15          .    authorizes the lieutenant governor to report a violation to the Utah State Bar;
             16          .    repeals provisions relating to a written examination for a notary;
             17          .    requires the lieutenant governor to provide an applicant with a copy of the law
             18      governing a notary and answers to frequently asked questions;
             19          .    requires an applicant to sign a statement that the applicant has read certain
             20      information; and
             21          .    makes technical changes.
             22      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             23          None
             24      Other Special Clauses:
             25          None

             26      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             27      AMENDS:
             28          46-1-3, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 183
             29          46-1-9, as repealed and reenacted by Laws of Utah 1998, Chapter 287
             30          46-1-19, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2003, Chapter 136
             31      ENACTS:
             32          46-1-3.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33     
             34      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             35          Section 1. Section 46-1-3 is amended to read:
             36           46-1-3. Qualifications -- Commissioning -- Jurisdiction and term.
             37          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (3), the lieutenant governor shall commission as a
             38      notary any qualified person who submits an application in accordance with this chapter.
             39          (2) A person qualified for a notarial commission shall:
             40          (a) be 18 years of age or older;
             41          (b) lawfully reside in this state 30 days immediately preceding the filing for a notarial
             42      commission and maintain permanent residency thereafter;
             43          (c) be able to read, write, and understand English;
             44          (d) submit an application to the lieutenant governor containing no significant
             45      misstatement or omission of fact and include at least:
             46          (i) a statement of the applicant's personal qualifications, the applicant's residence
             47      address, a business address in this state, and daytime telephone number;
             48          (ii) the applicant's age and date of birth;
             49          (iii) all criminal convictions of the applicant, including any pleas of admission and
             50      nolo contendere;
             51          (iv) all issuances, denials, revocations, suspensions, restrictions, and resignations of a
             52      notarial commission or other professional license involving the applicant in this or any other
             53      state;
             54          (v) [the acknowledgment of a passing score by the applicant on a written examination
             55      administered] a signed statement that the person has read the information provided under
             56      Subsection (5);

             57          (vi) a declaration by the applicant; and
             58          (vii) an application fee determined under Section 63J-1-504 ;
             59          (e) be a Utah resident or have permanent resident status under Section 245 of the
             60      Immigration and Nationality Act; and
             61          (f) be endorsed by two residents of the state who are over the age of 18.
             62          (3) The lieutenant governor may deny an application based on:
             63          (a) the applicant's conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;
             64          (b) any revocation, suspension, or restriction of a notarial commission or professional
             65      license issued to the applicant by this or any other state;
             66          (c) the applicant's official misconduct while acting in the capacity of a notary; or
             67          (d) the applicant's failure to [pass the written examination] include the statement
             68      required by Subsection (2)(d)(v).
             69          (4) A person commissioned as a notary by the lieutenant governor may perform
             70      notarial acts in any part of this state for a term of four years, unless the person resigned or the
             71      commission is revoked or suspended under Section 46-1-19 .
             72          (5) (a) The lieutenant governor shall provide to an applicant:
             73          (i) a copy of the law governing a notary; and
             74          (ii) answers to frequently asked questions.
             75          (b) Each applicant for a notarial commission shall [take a written examination
             76      approved] read the information provided by the lieutenant governor [and submit the
             77      examination to a testing center designated by the lieutenant governor for purposes of scoring
             78      the examination. The testing center designated by the lieutenant governor shall issue a written
             79      acknowledgment to the applicant indicating whether the applicant passed or failed the
             80      examination] under Subsection (5)(a).
             81          Section 2. Section 46-1-3.5 is enacted to read:
             82          46-1-3.5. Attorney commissioned to perform notarial acts -- Requirements.
             83          The lieutenant governor shall:
             84          (1) by request, provide a person licensed to practice law in this state with the
             85      information described in Subsection 46-1-3 (5)(a); and
             86          (2) commission a person licensed to practice law in this state for a term of four years if
             87      the person:

             88          (a) is a resident of this state;
             89          (b) submits to the lieutenant governor:
             90          (i) a valid certificate of admission to the Utah State Bar; and
             91          (ii) a signed statement that the person has read the information provided under
             92      Subsection (1);
             93          (c) files the bond as required by Subsection 46-1-4 ; and
             94          (d) pays an application fee determined under Section 63J-1-504 .
             95          Section 3. Section 46-1-9 is amended to read:
             96           46-1-9. False or incomplete certificate.
             97          (1) A notary may not:
             98          [(1)] (a) execute a certificate containing a statement known by the notary to be false or
             99      materially incomplete; or
             100          [(2)] (b) perform any notarial act with intent to deceive or defraud.
             101          (2) A notary may perform a notarial act if:
             102          (a) the notarial certificate being completed by the notary contains:
             103          (i) the name of each person whose signature is being notarized, if applicable; and
             104          (ii) the date of the signing, if applicable; or
             105          (b) the notary legibly writes the information required by Subsection (2)(a) as part of the
             106      notarial certificate.
             107          Section 4. Section 46-1-19 is amended to read:
             108           46-1-19. Revocation or suspension.
             109          [The] (1) Except as provided by Subsection (2), the lieutenant governor may revoke or
             110      suspend a [notarial] commission on any ground for which an application for a [notarial]
             111      commission may be denied under Section 46-1-3 .
             112          (2) For a commission issued under Section 46-1-3.5 , the lieutenant governor may
             113      report a violation of this chapter to the Utah State Bar.

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