§191.4. Secretary of state; procedures for registration and reporting of notary instructors

            A.(1) The secretary of state shall develop and administer a program to provide for the registration and reporting of persons who provide notary examination preparatory education and instruction.

            (2) As used in this Section, a "provider" shall mean any person who provides a course or courses of instruction or study for the training and instruction of persons preparing for the Louisiana notary public examination required for the office of notary public and who charges a fee to any consumer for such service.

            B. Beginning February 28, 2015, each person who provides notary examination preparatory education and instruction shall be required to be a commissioned notary public with statewide notarial authority.

            C. Each provider shall submit an annual registration statement to the secretary of state on or before January first of each year beginning January 1, 2010. The secretary of state shall provide the form to be used for registration with the secretary of state and all registrations shall be submitted on the form provided by the secretary of state.

            D. Each provider, except an educational institution that operates under the oversight of the Board of Regents, Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, shall annually post a bond guaranteed by a commercial surety licensed to do business in this state with the secretary of state in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars. The bond shall be to ensure the performance of the provider's obligation to deliver any educational services contracted for and shall remain in effect for a period of one year.

            E.(1) The secretary of state may impose a penalty of not more than one thousand dollars per day against a provider who is not in compliance with the requirements of this Section.

            (2) If a penalty imposed under the provisions of this Section is not timely paid by a provider within thirty days of imposition of the penalty by the secretary of state, the attorney general shall institute proceedings against the provider to collect such penalty.

            F. Each provider shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of R.S. 17:3140.1 et seq., pertaining to such educational programs or instruction.

            G. The secretary of state may establish and require an annual professional development and education program for providers.

            H. The secretary of state may promulgate rules and regulations, where necessary, for implementation of the provisions of this Section, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

            I. Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 24, §2, eff. June 1, 2021.

            Acts 2009, No. 80, §1; Acts 2012, No. 279, §1; Acts 2021, No. 24, §§ 1, 2, eff. June 1, 2021.