H.B. 408 Notary Public Liability Amendments

Bill Sponsor:

Rep. Hall, Craig
Floor Sponsor:

Sen. Cullimore, Kirk A.
  • Drafting Attorney: Kurt P. Gasser
  • Fiscal Analyst: Alexander R. Wilson



  • Information
    • Last Action: 26 Mar 2019, Governor Signed
    • Last Location: Lieutenant Governor's office for filing
    • Effective Date: 14 May 2019
    • Session Law Chapter: 313


H.B. 408

1     
NOTARY PUBLIC LIABILITY AMENDMENTS

2     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Craig Hall

5     
Senate Sponsor: Kirk A. Cullimore

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill amends provisions providing for civil liability for the employer of a notary
10     public for misconduct by the notary public in certain circumstances.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     amends provisions creating liability for an employer of a notary public for the
14     notary public's misconduct if:
15               •     the notary public was acting within the course and scope of employment; and
16               •     the employer had knowledge of, consented to, or permitted the misconduct.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          46-1-18, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 259
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 46-1-18 is amended to read:
27          46-1-18. Liability.
28          (1) A notary may be liable to any person for any damage to that person proximately
29     caused by the notary's misconduct in performing a notarization.

30          (2) (a) A surety for a notary's bond may be liable to any person for damages
31     proximately caused to that person by the notary's misconduct in performing a notarization, but
32     the surety's liability may not exceed the penalty of the bond or of any remaining bond funds
33     that have not been expended to other claimants.
34          (b) Regardless of the number of claimants under Subsection (2)(a), a surety's total
35     liability may not exceed the penalty of the bond.
36          (c) An employer of a notary public is also liable for damages proximately caused by the
37     notary's misconduct in performing a notarization if:
38          (i) the notary public was acting within the course and scope of the notary public's
39     employment; and
40          (ii) the employer had knowledge of, consented to, or permitted the misconduct.
41          (3) It is a class B misdemeanor, if not otherwise a criminal offense under this code, for:
42          (a) a notary to violate a provision of this chapter; or
43          (b) the employer of a notary to solicit the notary to violate a provision of this chapter.
Bill Status / Votes
• Senate Actions • House Actions • Fiscal Actions • Other Actions
DateActionLocationVote
2/25/2019 Bill Numbered but not DistributedLegislative Research and General Counsel
2/25/2019 Numbered Bill Publicly DistributedLegislative Research and General Counsel
2/25/2019 LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal inputLegislative Research and General Counsel
2/25/2019 House/ received bill from Legislative ResearchClerk of the House
2/25/2019 House/ 1st reading (Introduced)House Rules Committee
2/27/2019 LFA/ fiscal note publicly availableHouse Rules Committee
2/27/2019 House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal AnalystHouse Rules Committee
3/1/2019 House/ to standing committeeHouse Business and Labor Committee
3/4/2019 House Comm - Favorable RecommendationHouse Business and Labor Committee11 0 4
3/4/2019 House Comm - Consent Calendar RecommendationHouse Business and Labor Committee11 0 4
3/5/2019 (10:25:37 AM)House/ comm rpt/ placed on Consent CalendarHouse Business and Labor Committee
3/5/2019 (10:25:38 AM)House/ 2nd readingHouse Consent Calendar
3/5/2019 (7:36:00 PM)House/ placed back on 3rd Reading CalendarHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills
3/6/2019 (10:57:01 AM)House/ 3rd readingHouse 3rd Reading Calendar for House bills
3/6/2019 (11:00:42 AM)House/ passed 3rd readingSenate Secretary57 11 7
3/6/2019 (11:00:44 AM)House/ to SenateSenate Secretary
3/6/2019 Senate/ received from HouseWaiting for Introduction in the Senate
3/6/2019 Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)Senate Rules Committee
3/7/2019 Senate/ to standing committeeSenate Business and Labor Committee
3/8/2019 Senate Comm - Favorable RecommendationSenate Business and Labor Committee6 0 2
3/11/2019 (4:30:39 PM)Senate/ committee report favorableSenate Business and Labor Committee
3/11/2019 (4:30:40 PM)Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading CalendarSenate 2nd Reading Calendar
3/13/2019 Senate/ 2nd Reading Calendar to RulesSenate Rules Committee
3/14/2019 Senate/ Rules to 2nd Reading CalendarSenate 2nd Reading Calendar
3/14/2019 (11:37:01 AM)Senate/ 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionSenate 2nd Reading Calendar
3/14/2019 (11:39:12 AM)Senate/ passed 2nd & 3rd readings/ suspensionSenate President23 0 6
3/14/2019 (11:39:13 AM)Senate/ signed by President/ returned to HouseHouse Speaker
3/14/2019 (11:39:14 AM)Senate/ to HouseHouse Speaker
3/14/2019 House/ received from SenateHouse Speaker
3/14/2019 House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrollingLegislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
3/15/2019 Bill Received from House for EnrollingLegislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
3/15/2019 Draft of Enrolled Bill PreparedLegislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
3/21/2019 Enrolled Bill Returned to House or SenateClerk of the House
3/21/2019 House/ enrolled bill to PrintingClerk of the House
3/21/2019 House/ received enrolled bill from PrintingClerk of the House
3/21/2019 House/ to GovernorExecutive Branch - Governor
3/26/2019 Governor SignedLieutenant Governor's office for filing