Pennsylvania recently adopted the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (“RULONA”), which will affect the process of swearing in newly elected and reelected School Board Members during Board Reorganization meetings in December. Under RULONA, the administration of an oath is now considered a “notarial act.” Any person performing a “notarial act”, regardless of whether or not they are a commissioned notary public, becomes a “notarial officer.” Although certain provisions of RULONA will only apply to commissioned notaries public, any person acting in the capacity of a notarial officer who is performing a notarial act will need to execute a certificate evidencing their performance of the notarial act.
In the context of Board Reorganization meetings, the new procedure required under RULONA will affect Temporary Board Presidents swearing in newly elected and re-elected Board Members. Temporary Board Presidents who are administering the oath will be acting as a notarial officer performing a notarial act, and will need to sign a certificate to comply with RULONA. Although some Boards traditionally invite members of the judiciary or a notary public to administer the oath, as a matter of best practices, it is recommended that Board Secretaries utilize the Oath of Office included in this document, and request that the individual administering the Oath of Office execute the “Certificate of Temporary President or other authorized official administering the oath” included below. Please note that the forms for the Oath of Office and Certificate have been developed by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and we recommend that these forms be utilized to comply with the law.
