HOUSE BILL NO. 4292

March 05, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Webber and Crawford and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

"Michigan notary public act,"

by amending sections 11, 19, and 25 (MCL 55.271, 55.279, and 55.285), section 11 as amended by 2018 PA 361, section 19 as amended by 2006 PA 510, and section 25 as amended by 2018 PA 330, and by adding section 12.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 11. (1) The secretary may appoint as a notary public an individual who applies to the secretary and meets all of the following qualifications:

(a) Is at least 18 years of age.

(b) Is a resident of this state or maintains a principal place of business in this state.

(d) Has not been convicted of a felony , misdemeanor, or violation described in section 41.as defined in section 41(5) or a specified misdemeanor as defined in section 41(2).

(e) For an applicant who does not reside in the state of Michigan, demonstrates that his or her principal place of business is located in the county in which he or she requests appointment and indicates that he or she is engaged in an activity in connection with that business in which he or she is likely to be required to perform a notarial acts.act.

(f) If applicable, has filed with the county clerk of his or her county of residence or expected appointment a surety bond and an oath under section 13, in a format acceptable to the secretary. The requirement of filing a bond does not apply to an applicant that demonstrates, in a manner acceptable to the secretary, licensure as an attorney at law in this state.

(g) Beginning January 1, 2020, submits proof acceptable to the secretary that he or she successfully completed an education program described in section 12 before submitting his or her application.

(h) Beginning January 1, 2020, passes the examination described in section 12.

(2) The secretary shall, on a monthly basis, notify the county clerk's office of the appointment of any notaries in that county.

Sec. 12. (1) Before January 1, 2020, the secretary shall develop or approve an education program for purposes of sections 11 and 19. All of the following apply to the education program:

(a) The program shall consist of at least 4 hours of instruction.

(b) The program shall address topics that the secretary considers relevant to the duties and responsibilities of a notary public.

(2) Before January 1, 2020, for purposes of sections 11 and 19, the secretary shall develop and provide for the administration of an examination of applicants for appointment or reappointment. Before he or she is permitted to take the examination, an applicant for appointment or reappointment must show proof that he or she successfully completed the education program described in subsection (1), either before his or her initial appointment or before his or her first reappointment after January 1, 2020.

Sec. 19. (1) The secretary shall not automatically reappoint a notary public when his or her current commission as a notary public expires.

(2) A person desiring An individual who is seeking another notary public appointment may apply to the secretary, in a format prescribed by the secretary, for an original appointment as a notary public. The application may be submitted individual shall submit the application not more than 60 days before the expiration of his or her current notary public commission.

(3) In the case of If a licensed attorney is granted an appointment as a notary public under this act, and after the initial application under section 15, the secretary shall send a reappointment application form to the licensed attorney at least 90 days before the expiration of the his or her current notary appointment. The application for reappointment shall contain a certification to be completed by the applicant certifying that he or she is still a member in good standing in the state bar State Bar of Michigan. The applicant shall otherwise comply with the requirements for appointment as a notary public as described in section 15.

(4) The secretary shall automatically cancel the notary public commission of any person individual who makes, draws, utters, or delivers any check, draft, or order for the payment of a processing fee under this act that is not honored by the bank, financial institution, or other depository expected to pay the check, draft, or order for payment upon on its first presentation.

(5) Beginning January 1, 2020, the secretary shall not reappoint a notary public under this section unless he or meets both of the following:

(a) Submits proof acceptable to the secretary that he or she successfully completed an education program described in section 12 before submitting his or her application for reappointment. This subdivision does not apply to an applicant who previously completed an education program described in section 12 and submitted proof of completion of the education program in connection with a previous application for appointment or reappointment.

(b) Passes the examination described in section 12.

Sec. 25. (1) A notary public may perform notarial acts that include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Taking acknowledgments.

(b) Administering oaths and affirmations.

(2) In taking an acknowledgment, the notary public shall determine, either from personal knowledge or from satisfactory evidence, that the individual in the presence of the notary public and making the acknowledgment is the individual whose signature is on the record.

(3) In taking a verification upon oath or affirmation, the notary public shall determine, either from personal knowledge or from satisfactory evidence, that the individual in the presence of the notary public and making the verification is the individual whose signature is on the record being verified.

(4) In witnessing or attesting to a signature, the notary public shall determine, either from personal knowledge or from satisfactory evidence, that the signature is that of the individual in the presence of the notary public and is the individual named in the record.

(5) In all matters where the notary public takes a verification upon oath or affirmation, or witnesses or attests to a signature, the notary public shall require that the individual sign the record being verified, witnessed, or attested in the presence of the notary public.

(6) A notary public has satisfactory evidence that an individual is the individual whose signature is on a record if that individual is any of the following:

(a) Personally known to the notary public.

(b) Identified upon the oath or affirmation of a credible witness personally known by the notary public and who personally knows the individual.

(c) Identified on the basis of a current license, identification card, or record issued by a federal or state government that contains the individual's photograph and signature.

(d) With regard to a notarial act performed under section 26b, identified and verified through an identity proofing process or service that is part of a remote electronic notarization platform approved under section 26b(1), and the person presents an identity document described in subdivision (c) that is verified through a credential analysis process or service that is part of a remote electronic notarization platform approved under section 26b(1).

(7) The fee charged by a notary public for performing a notarial act shall not be more than $10.00 for any individual transaction or notarial act. A notary public shall either conspicuously display a sign or expressly advise an individual concerning the fee amount to be charged for a notarial act before the notary public performs the act. Before the notary public commences to travel in order to perform a notarial act, the notary public and client may agree concerning a separate travel fee to be charged by the notary public for traveling to perform the notarial act.

(8) A notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act.

(9) The secretary shall prescribe the form that a notary public shall use for a jurat, the taking of an acknowledgment, the administering of an oath or affirmation, the taking of a verification upon an oath or affirmation, the witnessing or attesting to a signature, or any other act that a notary public is authorized to perform in this state.

(10) A notary public shall keep, maintain, and protect, under his or her exclusive control, a chronological paper or electronic official journal of every notarial act performed by him or her. The journal shall contain the following entries for each notarial act:

(a) The date and time of the notarial act.

(b) The type of notarial act.

(d) The name, address, and signature of each individual whose signature is notarized.

(e) A description of the satisfactory evidence relied upon to identify each individual whose signature is notarized, including 1 or more of the following:

(i) A statement that the individual is "personally known" to the notary.

(ii) A notation of the type of identification document, its issuing agency, and its date of issuance or expiration.

(iii) The name, address, and signature of any credible witness.

(f) The fee, if any, charged for the notarial act.

(11) (10) A county clerk may collect a processing fee of $10.00 for certifying a notarial act of a notary public.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.