LA House Bill 243

Legislation

State: Louisiana
Signed: June 12, 2014

Effective: June 12, 2014
Chapter: Act No. 610

Summary

House Bill 243 will now require Notary applicants to sit for a pre-assessment test that will function as a gauge for how well they will do in taking the actual examination. Commissioned Notaries and attorneys will be exempt from having to take the pre-assessment test.

Affects

Amends Section 35:191 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Changes

Requires that an applicant for a Notary commission take a pre-assessment test administered by the Secretary of State.
Provides that no minimum score is required on the pre-assessment test, but also states it will be used to assess the probability of the applicant passing the official examination.
Provides that in order to qualify to take the pre-assessment test, the applicant must have satisfied all requirements to be commissioned as a Notary in the parish, except for passing the examination.
Exempts from the pre-assessment test an applicant who is admitted to practice law or who holds a valid notarial commission in Louisiana.

Analysis

Taking and passing the Louisiana Notary Public Examination is no small feat. 2014 NNA Notary of the Year Honoree Lucius Morris was the youngest examinee ever to pass the examination at age 18, but others don’t have it as easy. The examination is only given twice per year, so if an examinee fails, he or she must wait several months before taking the examination again. Legislation effective January 1, 2013 even created a special class of Notaries called “Provisional Notaries” who among other requirements have limited powers in exchange for not having to take and pass the performance assessment portion of the examination. House Bill 243 will now require Notary applicants to sit for a pre-assessment test that will function as a gauge for how well they will do in taking the actual examination. Commissioned Notaries and attorneys will be exempt from having to take the pre-assessment test. It is hoped that this new test will help applicants better prepare to take the actual examination and produce examinees who can pass the examination in greater numbers or possibly deter others who are not prepared from taking it.

Read House Bill 243.