HB 1055 Summary

• Requires notary public applicants to pay a fifteen dollar commission fee and submit to fingerprinting and criminal background checks to verify no pending state or federal arrests.

• Mandates all new and renewal notary applicants read the Missouri notary public handbook and complete computer-based or other notary training prescribed by the secretary of state before submitting an application.

• Requires notaries to maintain a permanently bound journal recording the month, day, year of notarization, type of notarization, document type, signer's name and address, identification used, notary fee, and signer's signature, with prohibitions on recording Social Security numbers or credit card numbers.

• Requires thumbprints in the notary journal and on original documents for deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, documents affecting real property, and power of attorney documents, with exceptions for trustee's deeds from foreclosures.

• Requires notary seals to contain the notary's name, "Notary Seal," "Notary Public," "State of Missouri," and the commission number (after August 28, 2004), all in at least eight-point type, and mandates seal manufacturers register with the secretary of state beginning January 1, 2016.