01/21/2024
Attention all Virginia Notaries on this page. There are currently two Bills being presented at the Virginia General Assembly next week that have a direct impact on us as Virginia Notaries. The first is a bill to increase our allowable fee to $10 (from the current $5) for each traditional stamp, and the other is to remove Antecedent Proofing as an Identity Verification option.
While I am sure we all agree on the increase to our fee, the other is not so easily understood or used. It is primarily in use by Federal notaries within a local area network, and by notaries in the Healthcare field. This seems rather obscure to most of us, but it will cause these two fields to HAVE to revert to a platform (with all associated platform fees) and effectively drive up the cost of services to the public to recoup those costs. Do we as American Taxpayers need higher costs? Not needlessly.
PLEASE take a moment to copy the text below and send YOUR representative your input TODAY! They will meet this coming week, and if we want to be heard, we need to speak NOW!
whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov
Date
The Honorable (First name)(Last name)
Address City, State (Zip Code)
RE: Support to Increase the Standard Fee for Virginia Notarial Acts and Renounce the Removal the Antecedent Proofing identity verification method
Dear (Representative/Senator/Congressman or Congresswoman) (Last name):
My name is (your first and last name) and I am a (family member /service provider/advocate/community member) who resides in your district.
I am writing today to ask for your vote on two Bills currently being introduced to the Virginia General Assembly in January of 2024 regarding Notarial acts under the purview of Virginia notaries public.
The first Bill is being introduced By Delegate Kathy Tran to increase the allowable fee for traditional notarial acts from five dollars ($5) to ten dollars ($10) per stamp, currently I cannot reference a drafted House Bill proposed by Delegate Tran. The current fee for a traditional notarial stamp has been locked at five dollars since 2005.
I strongly support any House Bill that would increase this minimal rate for traditional notarizations for Virginia Notaries Public.
As Public Officers we have, for the most part, personally accepted all risk for notarizations that are performed for the general public. In direct correlation, to balance the personal risk, most of us obtain individual Errors & Omissions Insurance out of pocket in the event we need legal representation. These fees rise periodically, but our fee has not kept pace with the costs of performing our office with all due diligence.
In addition, the costs of obtaining equipment have increased over time, as you are aware, the effects of inflation have impacted all industries nationwide, the suppliers of notarial equipment are no exception.
The increase would offset personal costs and support the ability of notaries representing Virginia to perform their office with confidence that our Notary Commission is not a financially negative effort.
I ask that you vote YES to this bill to increase the allowable fee to $10 per stamp.
Additionally it has been brought to my attention that there is interest to draft legislation to remove the identity verification method "antecedent proofing" from the VA Code § 47.1-2. Definitions. The drafted House Bill 1372 proposed in part by Representative Delegate Marcus B. Simon would remove the option of antecedent proofing for Virginia notaries, both traditional and electronic.
I strongly oppose any House Bill that would remove this identity proofing option. While this is not a widely utilized method of identity verification, it is a valuable option for Virginia notaries in both the Federal space as well as the Healthcare field.
Removal of this option would force the Federal government to utilize a commercial platform for actions that are currently possible to perform with in-network software tools already purchased by the Federal government for their local area networks at each agency. While identity verification is vital to the performance of a valid notarization, in instances where antecedent proofing is possible, the change would require contracts and software licensing fees for software platforms which may not currently be impacting the overall expense to the private individual. This does nothing but burden the US Taxpayer with yet another expense in an already extended Federal budget.
Additionally Healthcare organizations utilizing this identity verification method would also be forced into the commercial field for online platforms, requiring contracts and software licensing fees which may not currently be impacting the overall expense to the private individual. In many cases a software platform may not be an option depending on the individual circumstances of the health issue. Our healthcare costs are already exceedingly high, adding yet another fee to the public is an unnecessary burden.
The Commonwealth of Virginia is currently the only state in the United State with this identification form option available, and it is a highly valuable method in terms of potential for the Commonwealth if used properly.
As a Steward of the Taxpayers' dollar - I ask that you vote NO to this bill.
I appreciate your help and ask that you please send me a response letting me know if you are able to support any future House Bill that would amend or modify these two points in the Virginia Code.
Sincerely, SIGN YOUR NAME
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