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October 16, 2019 - Offered by Representative Ballweg.
AB293-ASA1,2,7 1An Act to repeal subchapter I (title) of chapter 137 [precedes 137.01], 137.02,
2subchapter II (title) of chapter 137 [precedes 137.11] and 706.07; to renumber
3137.01 (title), 137.01 (5), 137.01 (5m) (title), 137.01 (8) and 137.01 (9) (title); to
4renumber and amend
137.01 (1), 137.01 (2), 137.01 (3), 137.01 (4), 137.01
5(5m) (a), 137.01 (5m) (b), 137.01 (5m) (c), 137.01 (6), 137.01 (6m), 137.01 (7) and
6137.01 (9); to amend 15.01 (4), 15.185 (title), 20.575 (1) (g), chapter 137 (title),
7137.11 (intro.) and (4), 137.12 (1), (2) (intro.), (2m) (intro.), (2p), (2r) (intro.), (3),
8(4), (5) and (6), 137.13 (1), (2), (4) and (5), 137.14 (intro.) and (3), 137.16 (2)
9(intro.) and (4) (a) and (b), 137.20 (7), 236.21 (2) (a), 236.295 (1) (b), 244.05,
10244.19 (1), 407.103 (4), 610.60 (2) (a), 703.33 (9), 706.05 (2) (b), 706.05 (8),
11706.06 (1), 706.085 (2) (a), 708.15 (10) (g), 801.18 (11) (a), 801.18 (11) (e),
12857.015, 867.045 (2), 867.046 (3), 887.01 (1), 887.01 (3), 887.015 (4) (b) 4., 968.12
13(2) and 990.01 (38); and to create 15.185 (8), chapter 140 (title), 140.01, 140.02

1(5m) (a), 140.04, 140.05, 140.06, 140.07, 140.08, 140.09, 140.10, 140.11, 140.12,
2140.13, 140.14, 140.145, 140.15, 140.16, 140.17, 140.18, 140.20, 140.24, 140.26,
3140.27, 140.30, 140.31 and 140.34 of the statutes; relating to: adopting
4provisions of the revised uniform law on notarial acts and repealing a prior
5uniform law on notarial acts, creating a remote notary council, commissioners
6of deeds, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and
7granting rule-making authority.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB293-ASA1,1 8Section 1 . 15.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,2,169 15.01 (4) “Council" means a part-time body appointed to function on a
10continuing basis for the study, and recommendation of solutions and policy
11alternatives, of the problems arising in a specified functional area of state
12government, except the council on physical disabilities has the powers and duties
13specified in s. 46.29 (1) and (2), the state council on alcohol and other drug abuse has
14the powers and duties specified in s. 14.24, and the electronic recording council has
15the powers and duties specified in s. 706.25 (4), and the remote notary council has
16the powers and duties specified in s. 140.145 (11)
.
AB293-ASA1,2 17Section 2 . 15.185 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,2,18 1815.185 (title) Same; attached boards and, offices, and councils .
AB293-ASA1,3 19Section 3 . 15.185 (8) of the statutes is created to read:
AB293-ASA1,2,2120 15.185 (8) Remote notary council. (a) There is created a remote notary council
21which is attached to the department of financial institutions under s. 15.03.
AB293-ASA1,2,2322 (b) The council shall be composed of the following members appointed for
233-year terms:
AB293-ASA1,3,1
11. One member who represents an association of title insurance companies.
AB293-ASA1,3,22 2. One member who represents attorneys who practice real estate law.
AB293-ASA1,3,33 3. One member who represents an association of bankers.
AB293-ASA1,3,54 4. One member who represents the providers of communication technology
5used to perform a notarial act involving a remotely located individual.
AB293-ASA1,3,66 5. The secretary of financial institutions or the secretary's designee.
AB293-ASA1,4 7Section 4. 20.575 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,3,148 20.575 (1) (g) Program fees. The amounts in the schedule for the purpose of
9carrying out general program operations. Except as provided under par. (ka), all
10amounts received by the secretary of state, including fees under s. 137.02 and all
11moneys transferred from the appropriation under s. 20.144 (1) (g), shall be credited
12to this appropriation. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), any unencumbered balance
13at the close of a fiscal year exceeding 10 percent of that fiscal year's expenditures
14under this appropriation shall lapse to the general fund.
AB293-ASA1,5 15Section 5. Chapter 137 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,3,1816 CHAPTER 137
17AUTHENTICATIONS AND ELECTRONIC
18 TRANSACTIONS AND RECORDS
AB293-ASA1,6 19Section 6. Subchapter I (title) of chapter 137 [precedes 137.01] of the statutes
20is repealed.
AB293-ASA1,7 21Section 7. 137.01 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (title).
AB293-ASA1,8 22Section 8 . 137.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (1), and 140.02 (1)
23(a), (b), (d), (e) and (g), as renumbered, are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,4,224 140.02 (1) (a) The secretary of financial institutions department shall appoint
25notaries public who shall be United States residents and at least 18 years of age.

1Applicants who are not attorneys shall file an application with the department of
2financial institutions
and pay a $20 fee.
AB293-ASA1,4,63 (b) The secretary of financial institutions department shall satisfy himself or
4herself
itself that the applicant has the equivalent of an 8th grade education, is
5familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a notary public and, subject to ss.
6111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, does not have an arrest or conviction record.
AB293-ASA1,4,107 (d) Qualified applicants shall be notified by the department of financial
8institutions
to take and file the official oath and execute and file an official bond in
9the sum of $500, with a surety executed by a surety company and approved by the
10secretary of financial institutions department.
AB293-ASA1,4,1311 (e) The qualified applicant shall file his or her signature, post-office address,
12and an impression of his or her official seal, or imprint of his or her official rubber
13stamp, with the department of financial institutions.
AB293-ASA1,4,1614 (g) At least 30 days before the expiration of a commission the department of
15financial institutions
shall mail provide notice of the expiration date to the holder of
16a commission.
AB293-ASA1,9 17Section 9. 137.01 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (2) and amended
18to read:
AB293-ASA1,4,2519 140.02 (2) Notaries public who are attorneys. (a) Except as provided in par.
20(am), any United States resident who is licensed to practice law in this state is
21entitled to a permanent commission as a notary public upon application to the
22department of financial institutions and payment of a $50 fee. The application shall
23include a certificate of good standing from the supreme court, the signature and
24post-office address of the applicant and an impression of the applicant's official seal,
25or imprint of the applicant's official rubber stamp.
AB293-ASA1,5,8
1(am) If a United States resident has his or her license to practice law in this
2state suspended or revoked, upon reinstatement of his or her license to practice law
3in this state, the person may be entitled to receive a certificate of appointment as a
4notary public for a term of 4 years. An eligible notary appointed under this
5paragraph is entitled to reappointment for 4-year increments. At least 30 days
6before the expiration of a commission under this paragraph the department of
7financial institutions
shall mail provide notice of the expiration date to the holder of
8the commission.
AB293-ASA1,5,129 (b) The secretary of financial institutions department shall issue a certificate
10of appointment as a notary public to persons who qualify under the requirements of
11this subsection. The certificate shall state that the notary commission is permanent
12or is for 4 years.
AB293-ASA1,5,1613 (c) The supreme court shall file with the department of financial institutions
14notice of the surrender, suspension, or revocation of the license to practice law of any
15attorney who holds a permanent commission as a notary public. Such notice shall
16be deemed a revocation of said commission.
AB293-ASA1,10 17Section 10 . 137.01 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (3), and 140.02 (3)
18(a), as renumbered, is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,5,2519 140.02 (3) (a) Except as authorized in s. 137.19, and except as provided in s.
20140.17,
every notary public shall provide an engraved official seal which makes a
21distinct and legible impression or official rubber stamp which makes a distinct and
22legible imprint on paper. The impression of the seal or the imprint of the rubber
23stamp shall state only the following: “Notary Public," “State of Wisconsin" and the
24name of the notary. But any notarial seal in use on August 1, 1959, shall be
25considered in compliance.
AB293-ASA1,11
1Section 11. 137.01 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (4), and 140.02 (4)
2(a) and (b), as renumbered, are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,6,43 140.02 (4) (a) Every official act of a notary public shall be attested by the notary
4public's written signature or electronic signature, as defined in s. 137.11 (8).
AB293-ASA1,6,125 (b) Except as authorized in s. 137.19, and except when a notary public properly
6uses an official stamp under s. 140.17,
all certificates of acknowledgments of deeds
7and other conveyances, or any written instrument required or authorized by law to
8be acknowledged or sworn to before any notary public, within this state, shall be
9attested by a clear impression of the official seal or imprint of the rubber stamp of
10said officer, and in addition thereto shall be written or stamped either the day, month
11and year when the commission of said notary public will expire, or that such
12commission is permanent.
AB293-ASA1,12 13Section 12. 137.01 (5) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (5).
AB293-ASA1,13 14Section 13 . 137.01 (5m) (title) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (5m)
15(title).
AB293-ASA1,14 16Section 14 . 137.01 (5m) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (5m) (b) and
17amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,7,318 140.02 (5m) (b) Except as provided in par. (b) (c), a notary public or any provider
19of communication technology
shall keep confidential all documents and information
20provided to the notary public or provider of communication technology or contained
21in any documents reviewed by the notary public or provider of communication
22technology
while performing his or, her, or its duties as a notary public or provider
23of communication technology
and may release the documents or the information to
24a 3rd person only with the written consent of the person who requested the services
25of the notary public or the provider of communication technology. The prohibition

1under this paragraph does not apply when the notary public or the provider of
2communication technology is complying with a request from a regulatory agency or
3supervisory agency or is responding to a lawful subpoena or court order
.
AB293-ASA1,15 4Section 15 . 137.01 (5m) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (5m) (c) 1. and
5amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,7,86 140.02 (5m) (c) 1. Deposition A notary public or provider of communication
7technology may release deposition
transcripts may be released to all parties of record
8in an action. A
AB293-ASA1,7,13 92. Subject to subd. 1., a notary public or provider of communication technology
10may not release deposition transcripts that have not been made part of the public
11record to a 3rd party without the written consent of all parties to the action and the
12deponent unless required by a regulatory agency or supervisory agency or in
13response to a lawful subpoena or court order
.
AB293-ASA1,7,18 143. When a deposition transcript has been made part of the public record, a
15notary public who is also a court reporter may, subject to a protective order or
16agreement to the contrary, release the deposition transcript or sell the transcript to
173rd parties without the consent of the person who requested the services of the notary
18public.
AB293-ASA1,16 19Section 16 . 137.01 (5m) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (5m) (d) and
20amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,7,2321 140.02 (5m) (d) Any notary public or provider of communication technology
22violating this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of sub. (8) and may be
23required to forfeit not more than $500 for each violation.
AB293-ASA1,17 24Section 17 . 137.01 (6) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (6), and 140.02 (6)
25(a), as renumbered, is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,8,3
1140.02 (6) (a) The secretary of financial institutions department may certify
2to the official qualifications of any notary public and to the genuineness of the notary
3public's signature and seal or rubber stamp.
AB293-ASA1,18 4Section 18. 137.01 (6m) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (6m) and
5amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,8,96 140.02 (6m) Change of residence. A notary public does not vacate his or her
7office by reason of his or her change of residence within the United States. Written
8notice of any change of address shall be given to the department of financial
9institutions
within 10 days of the change.
AB293-ASA1,19 10Section 19. 137.01 (7) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (7) and amended
11to read:
AB293-ASA1,8,2112 140.02 (7) Official records to be filed. When any notary public ceases to hold
13office, the notary public, or in case of the notary public's death the notary public's
14personal representative, shall deposit the notary public's official records and papers
15with the department of financial institutions. If the notary or personal
16representative, after the records and papers come to his or her hands, neglects for
173 months to deposit them, he or she shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500.
18If any person knowingly destroys, defaces, or conceals any records or papers of any
19notary public, the person shall forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $500, and shall
20be liable for all damages resulting to the party injured. The department of financial
21institutions
shall receive and safely keep all such papers and records.
AB293-ASA1,20 22Section 20. 137.01 (8) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (8).
AB293-ASA1,21 23Section 21 . 137.01 (9) (title) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (9) (title).
AB293-ASA1,22 24Section 22 . 137.01 (9) of the statutes is renumbered 140.02 (9), and 140.02 (9)
25(intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,9,3
1140.02 (9) Fees. (intro.) A Except when the department has established
2different fees as provided in s. 140.27 (1) (a) 1., a
notary public shall be allowed the
3following fees:
AB293-ASA1,23 4Section 23. 137.02 of the statutes is repealed.
AB293-ASA1,24 5Section 24. Subchapter II (title) of chapter 137 [precedes 137.11] of the
6statutes is repealed.
AB293-ASA1,25 7Section 25 . 137.11 (intro.) and (4) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,9,8 8137.11 Definitions. (intro.) In this subchapter chapter:
AB293-ASA1,9,10 9(4) “Contract" means the total legal obligation resulting from the parties'
10agreement as affected by this subchapter chapter and other applicable law.
AB293-ASA1,26 11Section 26 . 137.12 (1), (2) (intro.), (2m) (intro.), (2p), (2r) (intro.), (3), (4), (5)
12and (6) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,9,1513 137.12 (1) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (2) and except in ss. 137.25 and
14137.26, this subchapter chapter applies to electronic records and electronic
15signatures relating to a transaction.
AB293-ASA1,9,17 16(2) (intro.) Except as otherwise provided in sub. (3), this subchapter chapter
17does not apply to a transaction to the extent it is governed by:
AB293-ASA1,9,19 18(2m) (intro.) This subchapter chapter does not apply to any of the following
19records or any transaction evidenced by any of the following records:
AB293-ASA1,9,23 20(2p) This subchapter chapter applies to a transaction governed by the federal
21Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 USC 7001, et seq.,
22but this subchapter chapter is not intended to limit, modify, or supersede 15 USC
237001
(c).
AB293-ASA1,10,3
1(2r) (intro.) To the extent that it is excluded from the scope of 15 USC 7003, this
2subchapter chapter does not apply to a notice to the extent that it is governed by a
3law requiring the furnishing of any notice of:
AB293-ASA1,10,7 4(3) This subchapter chapter applies to an electronic record or electronic
5signature otherwise excluded from the application of this subchapter chapter under
6subs. (2), (2m), and (2r) to the extent it is governed by a law other than those specified
7in subs. (2), (2m), and (2r).
AB293-ASA1,10,9 8(4) A transaction subject to this subchapter chapter is also subject to other
9applicable substantive law.
AB293-ASA1,10,11 10(5) This subchapter chapter applies to the state of Wisconsin, unless otherwise
11expressly provided.
AB293-ASA1,10,13 12(6) To the extent there is a conflict between this subchapter chapter and ch. 407,
13ch. 407 governs.
AB293-ASA1,27 14Section 27 . 137.13 (1), (2), (4) and (5) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,10,1715 137.13 (1) This subchapter chapter does not require a record or signature to
16be created, generated, sent, communicated, received, stored, or otherwise processed
17or used by electronic means or in electronic form.
AB293-ASA1,10,21 18(2) This subchapter chapter applies only to transactions between parties each
19of which has agreed to conduct transactions by electronic means. Whether the
20parties agree to conduct a transaction by electronic means is determined from the
21context and surrounding circumstances, including the parties' conduct.
AB293-ASA1,11,2 22(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter chapter, the effect of any
23provision of this subchapter chapter may be varied by agreement. Use of the words
24“unless otherwise agreed," or words of similar import, in this subchapter chapter

1shall not be interpreted to preclude other provisions of this subchapter chapter from
2being varied by agreement.
AB293-ASA1,11,4 3(5) Whether an electronic record or electronic signature has legal consequences
4is determined by this subchapter chapter and other applicable law.
AB293-ASA1,28 5Section 28 . 137.14 (intro.) and (3) of the statutes are amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,11,7 6137.14 Construction. (intro.) This subchapter chapter shall be construed
7and applied:
AB293-ASA1,11,11 8(3) To effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to
9the subject of this subchapter chapter among states enacting laws substantially
10similar to the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as approved and recommended
11by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1999.
AB293-ASA1,29 12Section 29 . 137.16 (2) (intro.) and (4) (a) and (b) of the statutes are amended
13to read:
AB293-ASA1,11,1714 137.16 (2) (intro.) If a law other than this subchapter chapter requires a record
15to be posted or displayed in a certain manner, to be sent, communicated, or
16transmitted by a specified method, or to contain information that is formatted in a
17certain manner, then:
AB293-ASA1,11,22 18(4) (a) To the extent a law other than this subchapter chapter requires
19information to be provided, sent, or delivered in writing but permits that
20requirement to be varied by agreement, the requirement under sub. (1) that the
21information be in the form of an electronic record capable of retention may also be
22varied by agreement; and
AB293-ASA1,11,2523 (b) A requirement under a law other than this subchapter chapter to send,
24communicate, or transmit a record by 1st-class or regular mail or with postage
25prepaid may be varied by agreement to the extent permitted by the other law.
AB293-ASA1,30
1Section 30. 137.20 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB293-ASA1,12,52 137.20 (7) The public records board may promulgate rules prescribing
3standards consistent with this subchapter chapter for retention of records by state
4agencies, the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority and local
5governmental units.
AB293-ASA1,31 6Section 31 . Chapter 140 (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB293-ASA1,12,77 CHAPTER 140
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