h_sa_2017a_2017-04-19t13:39:10z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/19/2017

Location: LSB A

07:00 PM -- SB17-132



Representative Wist and Representative Melton, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 17-132. The reengrossed bill, recommended by the Colorado Commission on Uniform State Laws, repeals current state laws regulating notaries public, and enacts the National Uniform Law Commission's (ULC) Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, as amended by ULC in 2016. The bill modernizes notary responsibilities and electronic recording processes; seeks to promote uniformity among state laws regarding notarial acts; allows the recognition of notarial acts from other jurisdictions; makes minor changes to the penalties related to notary misconduct; and allows a notary to leave his or her journal with their employer instead of retaining it or sending it to state archives. The bill also postpones the sunset review of notaries law from July 1, 2018, to September 1, 2023, and relocates the notaries statutes to the Secretary of State's (SOS) article.



The bill creates a working group, appointed by the SOS, to study and make recommendations regarding electronic remote notarization over the course of at least four meetings by December 1, 2017. The SOS is required to promulgate rules regarding electronic remote notarization by October 1, 2018, after which notaries may perform a notarial act by electronic remote notarization for a fee not to exceed $25.



Representative Melton explained amendment L.014 (Attachment J).



17HouseState0419AttachJ.pdf



07:08 PM -- Julie Brickley, Signed-N-Sealed Notaries, testified in opposition to the bill unless amended.



07:13 PM -- Tim Griesmer, Department of State, testified in opposition of the bill, but in support of amendment L.014



07:15 PM -- Letitia Maxfield, Colorado Bar Association, testified in support of the bill, if amended.



07:16 PM -- Michael Chodos, Notarize Inc., testified in support of the bill.



07:19 PM -- Richard Jones, Land Title Association of Colorado, testified in support of the bill, if amended.





07:21 PM



Representative Melton further explained amendment L.014.

07:22 PM



Representative Wist and Representative Melton made concluding remarks about the bill. The committee members made comments about the bill.