New Mexico Register / Volume XXXII, Issue 18 / September 28,
2021
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Office of the New Mexico Secretary of
State (“Office”) hereby gives notice that the Office will conduct a public
hearing on the described rules below.
The public hearing will be held on October 28, from 9:00
am to 11:00 am, at the State Capitol Building located at 490 Old Santa Fe
Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501 in Room 317.
Every effort will be made to ensure that this hearing will be live
streamed on the Office’s website. The public hearing allows members of the public an
opportunity to submit data, testimony, and arguments in person on the proposed
rule changes detailed below. All
comments will be recorded by a court reporter.
The purpose of this hearing is to obtain public input on
new rules relevant to the 2021 passage of the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial
Acts [14-14A-1 to 14-14A-32 NMSA 1978] which is effective beginning January 1,
2022. The new rules shall be codified
as:
12.9.3
NMAC Notarial Procedures
12.9.4
NMAC Remote Online Notarization Standards
Additionally, the purpose of the hearing is to obtain
public input on repealing 12.9.2 NMAC Performing Electronic Notarial Acts.
12.9.3
NMAC Notarial Procedures
Authority: Section 14-14A-26 NMSA 1978
Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to establish
standards, guidelines, procedures, fees and to define the duties and
responsibilities for notarial officers under the Revised Uniform Law on
Notarial Acts.
Summary
of Full Text: Section
12.9.3.7 NMAC defines key terms including “electronic record,”
“in-person electronic notarization,” “notary seal,” “remote online
notarization,” “tamper evident,” “tangible copy,” and “tangible record.”
Section 12.9.3.8 NMAC provides the process for applying for or renewing a
notary public commission including the established application fees. Section
12.9.3.9 NMAC provides the condition under which a notary public’s
commission automatically expires. Section
12.9.3.10 NMAC provides the process for suspending or revoking a notary
public commission. Section 12.9.3.11 NMAC provides the procedures and
requirements for providing training and the required examination course. Section
12.9.3.12 NMAC sets the maximum fees that may be charged by a notarial
officer. Section 12.9.3.13 NMAC provides the requirements for notarial
procedures. Section 12.9.3.14 NMAC provides requirements of a notarial
officer to prevent fraud and mistakes. Section 12.9.3.15 NMAC provides requirements
for the appearance of the official stamp.
Section 12.9.3.16 NMAC provides requirements for maintaining a
notarial journal. Section 12.9.3.17 NMAC provides requirements for
non-commissioned notarial officers.
12.9.4
NMAC Remote Online Notarization Standards
Authority: In
accordance with Subsection H of Sections 14-14A-5 and 14-14A-26 NMSA
1978, the secretary of state has the authority to promulgate rules for notaries
public to perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals using
communication technology.
Purpose: The purpose of this rule is to establish uniform standards of performance and governance
of notarial acts for remotely located individuals by use of communication
technology under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts.
Summary of Full Text: Section 12.9.4.7 NMAC
defines key terms including “communication technology,” “identity proofing,”
“knowledge-based authentication,” “public key infrastructure,” and “remote
notarization system provider.” Section 12.9.4.8 NMAC provides the
process for applying to perform remote online notarizations including the
established application fees. Section 12.9.4.9 NMAC provides the
procedures and requirements for providing training and the required examination
course. Section 12.9.4.10 NMAC
provides the process for performing remote online notarial acts. Section 12.9.4.11 NMAC provides the methodology
used by notary public authorized to perform remote online notarizations to
ensure the identity of a remotely located individual. Section 12.9.4.12 NMAC establishes the
requirements for the audiovisual communication technology utilized to perform
remote online notarizations. Section
12.9.4.13 NMAC provides the requirements for the electronic signature and
stamp utilized by notary publics authorized to perform remote online
notarizations. Section 12.9.4.14 NMAC provides requirements audio visual
record retention. Section 12.9.4.15
NMAC provides requirements for maintaining a notarial journal by notary
publics authorized to perform remote online notarizations. Section 12.9.4.16 NMAC provides
requirements for an online certificate for a remote notarial act. Section
12.9.4.17 NMAC establishes standards for remote notarization system
providers. Section 12.9.4.18 NMAC provides
requirements for non-commissioned notarial officers to be authorized to perform
remote online notarizations. Section
12.9.4.19 NMAC provides guidance regarding how commissioned notary publics
with an appointment date prior to the effective date of the new law to become
authorized to perform remote online notarizations.
Repeal of 12.9.2 NMAC Performing Electronic Notarial Acts
Purpose: 12.9.2
NMAC is based on previous law that is no longer applicable and must be
repealed.
Details
for Obtaining a Copy of Rule and Submitting Oral or Written Comments: Copies of the proposed rule are available
on the Office’s website at
www.sos.state.nm.us or can be obtained from the Business
Services Division by calling (505) 827-3600 or emailing kari.fresquez@state.nm.us.
The proposed rule is also available on the New Mexico Sunshine Portal.
Interested individuals may provide oral or written comments at the public
hearing.
Before the public hearing, written comments may be sent
to Kari Fresquez, Director of Legislative and Executive Affairs, via email at kari.fresquez@state.nm.us,
fax (505) 827-3611, or by regular mail at Attn: Kari Fresquez – proposed rule,
The Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State, 325 Don Gaspar, Suite 300,
Santa Fe, NM 87501. The deadline to receive written comment is 11:00 am on October
28, 2021. All written public comments
will be posted on the website throughout the written comment period at: www.sos.state.nm.us.
Any person with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing should contact (505) 827-3600 or email kari.fresquez@state.nm.us at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing.