I think you are right, Bobbi. I just took a look at some of the posts on Notary Rotary, and apparently the client that created the stir has revised its original post to explain that the December 6, 2006 deadline is its compliance date for the notaries in its data base... not a deadline imposed by law. It further indicated that the requirement for background checks and certifications was one imposed by several (but not all) of its clients. It was apparantly passing along the requirements to its notaries by contract. It was separating its data base into two sections of noncompliant and compliant signing agents.  The compliant signing agents would receive orders from the full list of clients.The non-compliant signing agents would receive orders only from the clients that do not require background checks and certification..