OK Senate Bill 215

Legislation

State: Oklahoma
Signed: April 02, 2015

Effective: November 01, 2015
Chapter: TBD

Summary

Senate Bill 215 clarifies rules related to the commissioning of Notaries and provides grounds for which the Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew or revoke the commission of a Notary.

Affects

Amends Title 49, Section 2011 of, and creates an as yet uncodified section in the Oklahoma Statutes.

Changes

Clarifies that the application for a Notary commission must set forth the applicant's: (a) name printed exactly as the applicant will sign documents as a Notary; (b) daytime phone number; (c) email address; and (d) signature exactly as the applicant will sign documents as a Notary.
Provides that the application for a Notary commission must contain a statement that the applicant: (a) is a citizen of the U.S.; (b) has never been convicted of a felony; and (c) is able to read and write in English.
Clarifies that an applicant for a Notary commission must file the Notary's oath of office and loyalty oath, official signature, impression of the Notary's seal and $1,000 bond not more than 60 days after issuance of the commission to the Notary.
Clarifies that the Notary's bond will be issued for a term that commences on the bond's effective date and terminates on the commission's expiration date.
Clarifies that a Notary shall not perform any notarial act until the Notary's bond, seal, and oaths have been received and approved by the Secretary of State.
No longer states that blanks for bonds and the oath of office will be furnished with the commission, but will be made available on the Secretary's website.
Provides that the Secretary may deny, refuse to renew or revoke the commission of a Notary for: (a) conviction of a felony; (b) failure to meet the qualifications and application requirements in 49 OS 2011 Sections 1 and 1.1; or (c) failure to comply with the requirements to file the Notary's signature, seal, oaths and bond.

Analysis

Senate Bill 215 clarifies and adds a number of new data points to the application for a Notary Public commission. Applicants now must include their daytime phone number and email address on the application. They also must answer questions about their U.S. citizenship, past criminal felony record and whether they can read or write English. The application form requires the applicant to include the printed name and sign this name exactly as how the applicant will sign documents as a Notary. SB 215 also clarifies that an applicant must file the applicant's oath of office, loyalty oath, official signature, impression of the applicant's Notary seal and $1,000 bond not more than 60 days after issuance of the applicant's commission and before the applicant performs notarizations. SB 215 also adds grounds for which the Secretary of State may deny, refuse to renew or revoke the commission of a Notary and makes technical changes.

Read the bill text.