ENROLLED
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 86
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the Louisiana State Law Institute to study and make recommendations
for the enactment of laws for the implementation of notaries public with limited
authority, and to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the
legislature.
WHEREAS, Louisiana currently has a unique system of laws as compared to other
states relative to the commissioning of notaries public; and
WHEREAS, a Louisiana notary public has broad authority which parallels many of
the same areas of authority of an attorney licensed to practice law in this state; and
WHEREAS, due to the broad authority provided to Louisiana notaries public,
persons desiring to obtain a notarial commission are required to meet certain specific
qualifications, including passing a very rigorous uniform examination which results in fewer
notaries public available to meet the needs of the public; and
WHEREAS, notaries public in every other state have very limited notarial authority,
and their services are more frequently used for the purpose of witnessing the signature of an
affiant; and
WHEREAS, because such notaries public in other states have limited notarial
authority, the criteria to become a notary public in those states is less stringent, which allows
for increased availability of notaries public to serve the public; and
WHEREAS, having certain notaries public with limited authority in Louisiana with
similar limited authority as those notaries that exist in other states would be beneficial to the
citizens and businesses of this state who frequently need a notary of only limited authority
to witness their signature on a document; and
WHEREAS, businesses frequently only need the services of a notary public with
limited authority to witness signatures, and a notary regime that allows an existing employee
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of that business to become a notary with limited authority would allow that business to be
more efficient and offer its customers better service; and
WHEREAS, businesses moving to Louisiana or considering moving to Louisiana
should be provided with a notary environment consistent with the state from which the
business is moving.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the director of the Louisiana State Law Institute.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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