MD Senate Bill 636

Legislation

State: Maryland
Signed: May 08, 2020

Effective: October 01, 2020
Chapter: 571

Summary

Senate Bill 636 pushes back the effective date of the mandatory Notary education and examination requirements until October 1, 2021.

Affects

Amends Section 18-102 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (State Government).

Changes

Provides that an initial Notary commission applicant must have completed the mandatory course and passed the examination beginning October 1, 2021.
Provides that a renewal Notary commission applicant must have completed the mandatory course beginning October 1, 2021.
Provides that on or before October 1, 2021, the Secretary of State regularly shall offer a course of study and an examination that covers the laws, regulations, procedures, and ethics relevant to notarial acts and may offer the course and examination through an entity approved by the Secretary.
Clarifies that SB 636 takes effect on October 1, 2020, the effective date of Chapter 407 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2019, and if the effective date of Chapter 407 is amended, SB 636 will take effect on the date that Chapter 407 takes effect.

Analysis

Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed and the Governor signed Senate Bill 678, enacting the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (RULONA). The new law requires a mandatory education course for initial and renewing Notary commission applicants and requires initial applicants to pass an examination. The RULONA is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2020. Senate Bill 636 gives the Secretary of State an additional year (October 1, 2021) to prepare for the implementation of the education and examination requirements. All other provisions of the RULONA will take effect as scheduled this October 1, 2020.

Read Senate Bill 636.