1Amending the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.1323, No.373), entitled 
2"An act concerning notaries public; and amending, revising, 
3consolidating and changing the law relating thereto," further 
4providing for identification of persons appearing.

5The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6hereby enacts as follows:

7Section 1. Section 12.1 of the act of August 21, 1953 (P.L.

81323, No.373), known as The Notary Public Law, added December 9, 
92002 (P.L.1269, No.151), is amended to read:

10Section 12.1. Determining Identity of Person Appearing.--(a)
11The officer notarizing the instrument shall know through 
12personal knowledge or have satisfactory evidence that the person 
13appearing before the notary is the person described in and who 
14is executing the instrument. For the purposes of this act and 
15section 5 of the act of July 24, 1941 (P.L.490, No.188), known 
16as the "Uniform Acknowledgment Act," "personal knowledge" means 
17having an acquaintance, derived from association with the 
18individual in relation to other people and based upon a chain of 
19circumstances surrounding the individual, which establishes the 

1individual's identity, and "satisfactory evidence" means the 
2reliance on the presentation of a current, government-issued 
3identification card bearing a photograph, signature or physical 
4description and serial or identification number, or the oath or 
5affirmation of a credible witness who is personally known to the 
6notary and who personally knows the individual.

7(b) In certifying a copy of a document or other item, a
8notary public shall determine that the proffered copy is a full,
9true and accurate transcription or reproduction of that which
10was copied and, in the case of a deed, shall attach to the 
11certification a copy of a government-issued identification card 
12bearing a photograph of the person appearing before the notary.

13Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.