(A)

(1) The secretary of state shall require each applicant for a notary commission, other than an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, to complete a criminal records check.

(2) The secretary shall not accept an application for a notary commission that includes the report of a criminal records check that is more than six months old.

(B) The secretary of state shall provide to each person applying for a notary commission, other than an attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state, information about accessing, completing, and forwarding to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code and the standard impression sheet to obtain fingerprint impressions prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section.

(C) Each person requesting a criminal records check under this section shall pay to the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the fee prescribed pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code.

(D) The report of any criminal records check conducted by the bureau of criminal identification and investigation in accordance with section 109.572 of the Revised Code and pursuant to a request made under this section is not a public record for the purposes of section 149.43 of the Revised Code and shall not be made available to any person other than the following:

(1) The person who is the subject of the criminal records check or the person's representative;

(2) The secretary of state and the staff of the secretary of state;

(3) A court, hearing officer, or other necessary individual involved in a case dealing with a commission denial resulting from the criminal records check.

(E) The secretary of state shall deny a notary commission application if, after receiving the information and notification required by this section, a person subject the criminal records check requirement fails to do either of the following:

(1) Access, complete, or forward to the superintendent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation the form prescribed pursuant to division (C)(1) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code or the standard impression sheet prescribed pursuant to division (C)(2) of that section;

(2) Submit the completed report of the criminal records check to the secretary of state.

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