§ 455:17 — Notary Public, Justice of the Peace Manual, Education, Enforcement

I. The secretary of state, with the advice and approval of the attorney general, shall prepare or cause to be prepared an up-to-date manual on the privileges, duties, and responsibilities of notaries public and justices of the peace in New Hampshire. The manual shall be written in non-technical language. The manual shall be distributed to each person commissioned a notary public, commissioner of deeds pursuant to RSA 455:12, and justice of the peace. The manual shall be available to the public free of charge. The manual shall be updated within 6 months following the end of any session of the legislature that amends the statutes affecting the privileges, duties, or responsibilities of notaries public, commissioners, or justices of the peace. The first edition of the manual shall be prepared by September 1, 2007.
II. The secretary of state may use the funds from the portion of the fees paid by applicants for commissions as a notary public or a justice of the peace deposited into the fund established in RSA 5:10-b for the preparation, printing, and distribution of a notary public/justice of the peace manual, other education of notaries public/justices of the peace, or both, and the acquisition, development, and maintenance of electronic records systems that will enhance the efficiency of the management of public records maintained by his or her office and to enhance the ease of submitting applications and renewals. The secretary of state shall enter into an agreement with the attorney general to provide funds from the fund established in RSA 5:10-b for the use of the attorney general for legal services related to the notary public/justice of the peace manual and for the enforcement of laws relating to notary public or justice of the peace misconduct.

Legislative History

2005, 118:6. 2010, 180:7, eff. June 21, 2010.