648                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                     [CH. 198

laws of this State concerning the appointment, qualification, appli-
cation, term, renewal commission, fees, and functions of notaries
public, and providing for the powers and duties of certain other
State officials in relation thereto.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 1 of Article 68 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1968 Supplement), title "Notaries Public," be and it is hereby re-
pealed, and that a new Section 1 be and it is hereby enacted in lieu
thereof, to stand in the place of the section so repealed; that a new
Section 2 be and it is hereby added to said Article 68, to follow
immediately after Section 1 thereof, and all to read as follows:

1. Appointment, Qualification, Applications, Term, Renewal, Com-
mission, Fees.

(a)  Appointment. The Governor, on approval of the application
by a Senator representing the senatorial district and subdistrict in
which the applicant resides, shall appoint and commission in his
discretion and judgment any number of persons as notaries public,
as provided herein.

(b)  Qualification. Every person appointed shall be at least
eighteen (18) years of age, of good moral character and integrity,
a citizen of the United States, a resident in this State for a period
of two (2) years prior to appointment, and a resident of the sena-
torial district and subdistrict from which he or she is appointed. The
residence requirements shall not apply to persons having an ap-
pointment as an official court reporter by any court of any county
or Baltimore City.

(c)  Applications. Applications for original appointment as a
notary public shall be made on forms prepared by the Secretary of
State and shall be sworn to by the applicant, and must bear thereon
or be accompanied by the written approval of a Senator represent-
ing the senatorial district and subdistrict in which the applicant
resides. Completed applications shall be filed with the Secretary of
State. When the appointment is made by the Governor, the Secretary
of State shall so notify the applicant.

(d)  Term. Appointments made and commissions issued follow-
ing the effective date of the Act shall be for a term ending December
31, 1973, JULY 1, 1974, and December 31 JULY 1 of each fourth
year thereafter. Terms which commenced on or after July 1, 1967,
are extended to December 31, 1969, JULY 1, 1970.

(e)  Renewal, Revocation, Reinstatement. Notary public commis-
sions shall MAY be renewed from term to term, and the Secretary of
State shall issue notice of renewal to the notary public at or prior to
the expiration of the term of the existing commission. Within thirty
(30) days after the issuance by the Secretary of State