This bill amends provisions of the Notaries Public Reform Act. This bill: - defines terms; - modifies requirements for providing satisfactory evidence of identity; - when an existing notary commission is renewed, or when a new notary commission is obtained:implements a requirement for the notary to keep a notary journal; andmodifies requirements for the content of a notary journal; - modifies requirements relating to the retention of a journal or an electronic recording relating to the journal of a remote notary; - provides that a notary journal or an electronic recording relating to a notary journal are not records under the Government Records Access and Management Act; - describes the circumstances under which a notary journal may be inspected; - makes it a crime to, without legal authority, use, forge, or take certain other actions in relation to a notarization, a notary journal, an official seal, or other items relating to notarization; - describes the action that a notary is required to take upon discovery of:a crime described in this bill; orthe loss, damage, or destruction of a notary journal or related items; - exempts attorneys and law firms from certain requirements relating to a notary journal; and - makes technical and conforming changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 46-1-2, 46-1-3.6, 46-1-3.7, 46-1-6, 46-1-13, 46-1-14, 46-1-15, 46-1-16