416                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 162

CHAPTER 162
(House Bill 21)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 1 of
Article 68 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1963 Supplement),
title "Notaries Public," to provide for the term of office of notaries
public and fixing the time for the beginning of the term of officer
AND PROVIDING FOR A CONTINGENCY AS TO THE
EFFECT OF THIS ACT.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 1 of Article 68 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1963 Supplement), title "Notaries Public," be and it is hereby re-
pealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

1.

The Governor on the approval of the application by the Senator
of the county or legislative district of Baltimore City in which the
applicant resides, shall appoint and commission in his discretion
and judgment any number of persons, male or female, at least
eighteen (18) years of age, of known good character, and integrity
and abilities, citizens of the United States, and who have resided
in this State two (2) years previous to their appointments as notaries
public for the State of Maryland; provided that such residence
requirement shall not be applicable to persons appointed as an
official court reporter by any court of Baltimore City. The term of
office of notaries public shall be for four TWO years from the first day
of July of the year in which appointed. In the case of a person who
is holding a notary's commission and wishes to renew it, a formal
application for renewal is not necessary; in such event a notifica-
tion to the Secretary of State of the name and address of the person,
together with the written approval of the Senator of the county or
legislative district, is a sufficient application for renewal, and the
renewal shall be issued subject to the other provisions of this article.
Notification of renewals of notary commissions shall be mailed to
the notaries public in envelopes addressed by the office of the Secre-
tary of State when requested by the State Senator. When addressed
envelopes are not so requested, lists of notaries public receiving re-
newed commissions shall be delivered to each State Senator.

No distinction shall be made between male and female applicants,
who shall take the oath of office before the clerk of the circuit court
for each of the counties in the State, and the clerk of the Superior
Court in Baltimore City, respectively, and shall receive a commis-
sion signed by the Governor and Secretary of State under the great
seal of the State. They shall pay the sum of five ($5) dollars TEN
DOLLARS ($10) FIVE ($5) DOLLARS for each commission so
issued, to the treasury of the State of Maryland, and the further sum
of fifty cents (50¢) ONE DOLLAR ($1.00) FIFTY CENTS (50¢) to
the clerk for the registration of the name and address of each of the
said notaries public.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1964. JANUARY 1, 1965, PROVIDED THAT PRIOR TO
THAT TIME THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS PROPOSED