October 29, 2019

On behalf of the Indiana Secretary of State, I am submitting this notice in compliance with IC 4-22-2-19, which requires an agency to begin the rulemaking process for new rules not later than 60 days after the effective date of the statute that authorizes the rule, unless a notice is first filed with the Publisher that includes the reasons why rulemaking began more than 60 days after the effective date.

The statutory authority for rulemaking that requires the Secretary of State's office to promulgate rules regarding notary commissions and remote notarization is IC 33-42-16-2.

The formal rulemaking process did not begin within 60 days of the authorizing statute because the Secretary of State's office was seeking input from stakeholders and surveying the policies of other states. In light of these efforts, the authorizing statute was amended in 2018 and 2019.

The Secretary of State's office began the rulemaking process by publishing a Notice of Intent on July 3, 2019 (DIN 20190703-IR-075190329NIA), and anticipates the rule to be approved within the one year deadline under IC 4-22-2-25(a).

Andrew Lang

Deputy General Counsel

Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson