HLS 18RS-2325 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 86
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
NOTARIES: Authorizes and directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to study and make
recommendations for legislation to implement notaries public with limited authority
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To authorize and direct the Louisiana State Law Institute to study and make
3 recommendations for the enactment of laws for the implementation of notaries public
4 with limited authority, and to submit a written report of its findings and
5 recommendations to the legislature.
6 WHEREAS, Louisiana currently has a unique system of laws as compared to other
7states relative to the commissioning of notaries public; and
8 WHEREAS, a Louisiana notary public has broad authority which parallels many of
9the same areas of authority of an attorney licensed to practice law in this state; and
10 WHEREAS, due to the broad authority provided to Louisiana notaries public,
11persons desiring to obtain a notarial commission are required to meet certain specific
12qualifications, including passing a very rigorous uniform examination which results in fewer
13notaries public available to meet the needs of the public; and
14 WHEREAS, notaries public in every other state have very limited notarial authority,
15and their services are more frequently used for the purpose of witnessing the signature of an
16affiant; and
17 WHEREAS, because such notaries public in other states have limited notarial
18authority, the criteria to become a notary public in those states is less stringent, which allows
19for increased availability of notaries public to serve the public; and
20 WHEREAS, having certain notaries public with limited authority in Louisiana with
21similar limited authority as those notaries that exist in other states would be beneficial to the
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HCR NO. 86
1citizens and businesses of this state who frequently need a notary of only limited authority
2to witness their signature on a document; and
3 WHEREAS, businesses frequently only need the services of a notary public with
4limited authority to witness signatures, and a notary regime that allows an existing employee
5of that business to become a notary with limited authority would allow that business to be
6more efficient and offer its customers better service; and
7 WHEREAS, businesses moving to Louisiana or considering moving to Louisiana
8should be provided with a notary environment consistent with the state from which the
9business is moving.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
11authorize and direct the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the laws relative to notaries
12public in this state and other states with particular focus on the implementation of notaries
13public with limited authority, and to submit a written report of its findings, proposed
14legislation, and recommendations to the legislature no later than February 1, 2019.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
16to the director of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 86 Original 2018 Regular Session Garofalo
Authorizes and directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the laws relative to notaries
public in this state and other states with particular focus on the implementation of notaries
public with limited authority, and to submit a written report of its findings, proposed
legislation, and recommendations to the legislature no later than February 1, 2019.
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