House Bill 4809
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Kowall
Committee: Criminal Law and Corrections
Complete to 2-1-00
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4809 AS INTRODUCED 6-17-99
Under the bill, a person serving a term of imprisonment in a state correctional facility or jail in any state, or in a federal correctional facility, could not be appointed as a notary public. A person holding office as a notary public would have his or her commission revoked automatically if he or she was sentenced to a term of imprisonment; the revocation would occur on the day the person began serving the sentence.
The bill would amend Chapter 14 of the Revised Statutes of 1846 (entitled "Of County Officers"), which permits the secretary of state to appoint notaries on a countywide basis. To be appointed, a person must be endorsed by a member of the legislature or a local circuit or probate judge, be at least 18 years old at the time of application, and be a resident of the county for which the appointment is made. Once appointed, however, a person can act as a notary public in any part of the state.
MCL 55.107
Analyst: C. Couch