Part 8, Section 5
California BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS Code Sections Pertaining to Notaries Public

§ 8016.  No person shall engage in the practice of shorthand reporting as defined in this chapter, unless that person is the holder of a certificate in full force and effect issued by the board. This section does not apply to a salaried, full-time employee of any department or agency of the state who is employed as a hearing reporter.
   This section shall apply to all persons who are appointed, on and after January 1, 1983, to the position of official reporter or pro tempore official reporter of any court, as defined in the Government Code.
 

§ 8017.  The practice of shorthand reporting is defined as the making, by means of written symbols or abbreviations in shorthand or machine shorthand writing, of a verbatim record of any oral court proceeding, deposition, court ordered hearing or arbitration, or proceeding before any grand jury, referee, or court commissioner and the accurate transcription thereof. Nothing in this section shall require the use of a certified shorthand reporter when not otherwise required by law.
 

§ 22441.
(a) A person engages in the business or acts in the capacity of an immigration consultant when that person gives nonlegal assistance or advice on an immigration matter. That assistance or advice includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Completing a form provided by a federal or state agency but not advising a person as to their answers on those forms.

(2) Translating a person's answers to questions posed in those forms.

(3) Securing for a person supporting documents, such as birth certificates, which may be necessary to complete those forms.

(4) Submitting completed forms on a person's behalf and at their request to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(5) Making referrals to persons who could undertake legal representation activities for a person in an immigration matter.

(b) "Immigration matter" means any proceeding, filing, or action affecting the immigration or citizenship status of any person which arises under immigration and naturalization law, executive order or presidential proclamation, or action of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the United States Department of State, or the United States Department of Labor.

(c) "Compensation" means money, property, or anything else of value.

(d) Every person engaged in the business or acting in the capacity of an immigration consultant shall only offer nonlegal assistance or advice in an immigration matter as defined in subdivision (a). Any act in violation of subdivision (a) is a violation of this chapter.

 § 22442.2.
(a) An immigration consultant shall conspicuously display in his or her office a notice that shall be at least 12 by 20 inches with boldface type or print with each character at least one inch in height and width in English and in the native language of the immigration consultant's clientele that contains the following information:

(1) The full name, address, and evidence of compliance with any applicable bonding requirement including the bond number, if any.

(2) A statement that the immigration consultant is not an attorney.

(3) The services that the immigration consultant provides and the current and total fee for each service.

(4) The name of each immigration consultant employed at each location.

(b) Prior to providing any services, an immigration consultant shall provide the client with a written disclosure in the native language of the client that shall include the following information:

(1) The immigration consultant's name, address, and telephone number.

(2) The immigration consultant's agent for service of process.

(3) The legal name of the employee who consulted with the client, if different from the immigration consultant.

(4) Evidence of compliance with any applicable bonding requirement, including the bond number, if any.

* * *

§ 22442.3.
(a) An immigration consultant shall not, with the intent to mislead, literally translate, from English into another language, the words or titles, including, but not limited to, "notary public," "notary," "licensed," "attorney," "lawyer," or any other terms that imply that the person is an attorney, in any document, including an advertisement, stationery, letterhead, business card, or other comparable written material describing the immigration consultant.

(b) For purposes of this section, "literal translation" of a word or phrase from one language means the translation of a word or phrase without regard to the true meaning of the word or phrase in the language that is being translated.

(c) An immigration consultant may not make or authorize the making of any verbal or written references to his or her compliance with the bonding requirements of Section 22443.1 except as provided in this chapter.

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