(A) The secretary of state may appoint and commission as notaries public as many persons who meet the qualifications of division (B) of this section as the secretary of state considers necessary.

(B) In order for a person to qualify to be appointed and commissioned as a notary public, the person shall demonstrate to the secretary of state that the person satisfies all of the following:

(1) The person has attained the age of eighteen years.

(2)

(a) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, the person is a legal resident of this state .

(b)

The person is not a legal resident of this state, but is an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state by the Ohio supreme court, and has the person's principal place of business or the person's primary practice in this state.

(3)

(a) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, the person has submitted a criminal records check report completed within the preceding six months in accordance with section 147.022 of the Revised Code demonstrating that the applicant has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a disqualifying offense, or any offense under an existing or former law of this state, any other state, or the United States that is substantially equivalent to such a disqualifying offense.

(b) An attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state shall not be required to submit a criminal records check when applying to be appointed a notary public.

(4)

(a) Except as provided in divisions (B)(4)(b) and (c) of this section, the person has successfully completed an educational program and passed a test administered by the entities authorized by the secretary of state as required under section 147.021 of the Revised Code.

(b) An attorney who is commissioned as a notary public in this state prior to the effective date of this amendment shall not be required to complete an education program or pass a test as required in division (B)(4)(a) of this section.

(c) Any attorney who applies to become commissioned as a notary public in this state after the effective date of this amendment shall not be required to pass a test as required in division (B)(4)(a) of this section, but shall be required to complete an education program required by that division.

(C) A notary public shall be appointed and commissioned as a notary public for the state. The secretary of state may revoke a commission issued to a notary public upon presentation of satisfactory evidence of official misconduct or incapacity.

(D) The secretary of state shall oversee the processing of notary public applications and shall issue all notary public commissions. The secretary of state shall oversee the creation and maintenance of the online database of notaries public commissioned in this state pursuant to section 147.051 of the Revised Code. The secretary of state may perform all other duties as required by this section. The entities authorized by the secretary of state pursuant to section 147.021 or 147.63 of the Revised Code shall administer the educational program and required test or course of instruction and examination, as applicable.

(E) All submissions to the secretary of state for receiving and renewing commissions, or notifications made under section 147.05 of the Revised Code, shall be done electronically.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 263, §1, eff. 9/20/2019.

Effective Date: 09-26-2003.