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An Act To Amend the Notary Public Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §82, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 285, §1, is repealed.
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §82-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 285, §2, is amended to read:
 
1. Board created. The Notary Public Review Board, as established by section 12004-G, subsection 31-C and referred to in this section as "the board," is created to review violations of law by notaries public and complaints concerning notaries public made pursuant to section 82, subsection 8Title 4, section 955-C, subsection 3.
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §82-B, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 285, §2, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §82-B, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 285, §2, is amended to read:
 
7. Review of complaints. The board shall review complaints against notaries public made pursuant to section 82, subsection 8Title 4, section 955-C, subsection 3 and make recommendations to the Secretary of State on the appropriate disposition of such complaints. The board may hold a hearing as part of its review to determine whether grounds exist for denial of commission, suspension of commission, revocation of commission or renewal of commission or other action necessary to the fulfillment of the Secretary of State's responsibility under the laws of this State. The board may recommend to the Secretary of State that the complaint be dismissed or that a notary public’s commission be denied, suspended, revoked or not renewed or any other action that the board determines to be appropriate.
 
SUMMARY
This bill clarifies that the purpose and function of the Notary Public Review Board is to screen complaints against notaries and recommend appropriate disposition to the Secretary of State.