It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 42-30-3, 42-30-4, 42-30-5, 42-30-12 and 42-30-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-30 entitled "Notaries Public and Justices of the Peace" are hereby amended to read as follows:

42-30-3. Appointment of notaries and justices. -- The governor shall appoint as many notaries public for the state, and as many justices of the peace for the several towns and cities, as he or she may deem expedient; and every notary public and justice of the peace, so appointed, shall hold office for two (2) {ADD four (4) ADD} years.

42-30-4. Certificate of engagement -- Term of engagement. -- (a) Except as otherwise provided, each notary public and justice of the peace shall, at the time of receiving his or her commission, file with the secretary of state a certificate that he or she has been duly engaged thereon, signed by the person before whom the engagement shall have been taken, and the secretary of state shall, at the request of the notary public or justice of the peace and upon payment of the actual cost thereof, issue a wallet-size identification card to such person.

(b) The term of engagement for each notary public and justice of the peace shall be for a period of two (2) {ADD four (4) ADD} years.

42-30-5. Application for appointment. -- (a) Any qualified elector of this state desiring to be appointed a notary public, or a justice of the peace, shall make written application to the governor over his or her own signature, stating that he or she is a qualified elector who is an actual resident of the state of Rhode Island.

(b) Qualification as an elector of the state at the time of making application is to be certified to by a member of the board of canvassers and registration, in cities having such boards, or by the city or town clerk of the city or town in which the applicant claims a right to vote, and except for members of the bar of this state, the member of the board of canvassers and registration or the city or town clerk shall satisfy himself or herself that the applicant for appointment to the office of notary public or justice of the peace can speak, read, and write the English language and has sufficient knowledge of the powers and duties pertaining to that office.

(c) A member of the Rhode Island bar shall, regardless of residence, be appointed a notary public upon application and presentment of a certified copy of his or her certificate of admission to the bar.

(d) Any such person making written application to be appointed a notary public or justice of the peace shall, at the time of application, pay to the secretary of state the sum of forty dollars ($40.00) {ADD eighty dollars ($80.00) ADD} .

42-30-12. Continuation of powers without new engagement. -- Every such officer listed in section 42-30-14 who may be reappointed or continued in office, may continue to officiate for the same length of time {ADD while in office ADD} without taking a new engagement.

42-30-14. Public officers having notarial powers. -- Every state senator, state representative, chief, deputy, and assistant clerk of any state court, clerks of the board of canvassers, and worker's compensation court, and municipal clerk and the board of canvassers registrar during the period for which he or she has been elected or appointed, shall have the power to act as a notary public as in this chapter provided. No office holder set forth in this section shall be required to pay the commission fee as provided in section 42-30-5. {ADD Such office holders must complete the certificate of engagement as set forth in section 42-30-4. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.