THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, THOMAS, J. TAYLOR, MURT AND CALTAGIRONE, MARCH 14, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 14, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.1323, No.373), entitled

"An act concerning notaries public; and amending, revising,

consolidating and changing the law relating thereto," further

providing for identification of persons appearing.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 12.1 of the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.

1323, No.373), known as The Notary Public Law, added December 9,

2002 (P.L.1269, No.151), is amended to read:

Section 12.1.  Determining Identity of Person Appearing.--(a)

The officer notarizing the instrument shall know through

personal knowledge or have satisfactory evidence that the person

appearing before the notary is the person described in and who

is executing the instrument. For the purposes of this act and

section 5 of the act of July 24, 1941 (P.L.490, No.188), known

as the "Uniform Acknowledgment Act," "personal knowledge" means

having an acquaintance, derived from association with the

individual in relation to other people and based upon a chain of

circumstances surrounding the individual, which establishes the

individual's identity, and "satisfactory evidence" means the

reliance on the presentation of a current, government-issued

identification card bearing a photograph, signature or physical

description and serial or identification number, or the oath or

affirmation of a credible witness who is personally known to the

notary and who personally knows the individual.

(b)  In certifying a copy of a document or other item, a

notary public shall determine that the proffered copy is a full,

true and accurate transcription or reproduction of that which

was copied and, in the case of a deed, shall attach to the

certification a copy of a government-issued identification card

bearing a photograph of the person appearing before the notary.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.