(a) The Secretary of State shall appoint two notaries public to serve as advisors in matters relating to notarial acts. One of the advisors shall be an attorney selected from a list of at least three licensed attorneys provided by the Vermont Bar Association. The advisors shall be appointed for staggered five-year terms and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. One of the initial appointments shall be for less than a five-year term.

(b) Each appointee shall have at least three years of experience as a notary public during the period immediately preceding appointment and shall be actively commissioned in Vermont and remain in good standing during incumbency.

(c) The Office shall seek the advice of the advisor appointees in carrying out the provisions of this chapter. The appointees shall be entitled to compensation and reimbursement of expenses as set forth in 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for attendance at any meeting called by the Office for this purpose. (Added 2017, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2019.)