(a) A competent number of notaries public for the state at large shall be appointed and commissioned by the judges of probate of the several counties of the state and shall hold office for four years from the date of their commission. Notaries public shall perform all the acts and exercise all authority under the general laws of the State of Alabama. The jurisdiction of the notaries public shall not be limited to the counties of their residence and shall extend to any county of the state. The judges of probate shall collect a fee of ten dollars ($10) for each notary commission issued. The judges of probate shall also report to the Secretary of State the name, county of residence, date of issuance, and date of expiration of the commission of each notary public appointed and commissioned under this subsection.
(b) All existing notaries public functioning on January 1, 2012, shall continue to function pursuant to their existing authority for the remainder of their existing commission.