HLS 19RS-536 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 134
BY REPRESENTATIVE JENKINS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
NOTARIES: Provides relative to qualifications to be appointed a notary public
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 35:191(A)(1)(d) and (C)(1)(d) and to repeal R.S. 35:191(V) and
3 (W), relative to notaries public; to provide for qualifications; to provide for
4 application periods; to provide relative to certain temporary and provisional
5 commissions; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 35:191(A)(1)(d) and (C)(1)(d) are hereby amended and reenacted to
8read as follows:
9 ยง191. Appointment; qualifications; examination
10 A.(1)
11 * * *
12 (d) Has received a high school diploma, has received a diploma for
13 completion of a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and
14 Secondary Education, or has been issued a high school equivalency diploma after
15 successfully completing the test of General Educational Development a high school
16 equivalency test approved by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical
17 Colleges.
18 * * *
19 C. Each applicant, otherwise qualified, may be appointed a notary public in
20 and for a parish upon meeting all of the following conditions:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-536 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 134
1 (1)
2 * * *
3 (d) The deadline for the application provided for in Subparagraph (C)(1)(a)
4 of this Section and the application fee provided for in Subparagraph (C)(1)(c) or to
5 register to take the exam as provided for in R.S. 35:191.1 shall be no later than sixty
6 thirty days prior to the date of the examination.
7 * * *
8 Section 2. R.S. 35:191(V) and (W) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
9 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
10signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
11by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
12vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
13effective on the day following such approval.
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)]
HB 134 Original 2019 Regular Session Jenkins
Abstract: Provides relative to the qualifications for notaries public.
Present law provides for the qualifications to be commissioned as a notary public, which
include, in part, that the applicant have a high school diploma or a diploma for completion
of a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education, or the applicant has been issued a high school equivalency diploma after
successfully completing the test of General Educational Development.
Proposed law retains present law and replaces the reference to the General Educational
Development test with a high school equivalency test approved by the Board of Supervisors
of Community and Technical Colleges as a qualification.
Present law provides that the deadline for the application and the application fee shall be no
later than 60 days prior to the date of the examination.
Proposed law changes the present law deadline from 60 days to 30 days.
Present law authorizes notaries public in certain parishes who were displaced by Hurricanes
Katrina or Rita to practice in the parish of their temporary residence, and further provides
that the provisions of present law shall expire on Jan. 1, 2007.
Proposed law repeals the provisions of present law which have already expired.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-536 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 134
Present law provides for the provisional appointment and powers of notaries who have
passed only certain portions of the notary exam, and provides for additional requirements
for appointment.
Present law provides that the provisions of present law shall expire on Aug. 1, 2017.
Proposed law repeals the provisions of present law which have already expired.
(Amends R.S. 35:191(A)(1)(d) and (C)(1)(d); Repeals R.S. 35:191(V) and (W))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.