LA Senate Bill 307

Legislation

State: Louisiana
Signed: May 30, 2014

Effective: August 01, 2014
Chapter: Act No. 388

Summary

Senate Bill 307 amends provisions related to the appointment and duties of employees as ex-officio Notaries Public who are appointed by the director of a hospital service district hospital.

Affects

Amends Section 35:403 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Changes

Provides that notwithstanding any provisions of the law relative to qualifications of Notaries Public, the director of a hospital service district hospital may appoint not more than two employees of the hospital as ex-officio Notaries Public.
Removes the authority of such ex-officio Notaries from exercising the functions of a Notary related to executing “other documents,” while retaining the authority of such Notaries to administer oaths, receive sworn statements, execute affidavits and take acknowledgments.
Clarifies that such ex-officio Notaries may perform Notary services only that pertain to official business functions of the hospital.

Analysis

Senate Bill 307 amends provisions related to the appointment and duties of employees as ex-officio Notaries Public who are appointed by the director of a hospital service district hospital. It doesn’t create or remove the authority to appoint such ex-officio Notaries Public, but clarifies that they may only perform notarial acts related to official business functions of the hospital. Reading between the lines, one could assume that these Notaries were often asked to notarize documents for patients, but the new law would appear to limit their authority to notarizing in business matters. Further, the new law removes a confusing phrase in existing statute allowing these Notaries to execute… “other documents.”

Read Senate Bill 307.