§ 5342. Grounds to deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or condition commission of notary public

(a) The Office may deny, refuse to renew, revoke, suspend, or impose a condition on a commission as notary public for any act or omission that demonstrates the individual lacks the honesty, integrity, competence, or reliability to act as a notary public, including:

(1) failure to comply with this chapter;

(2) a fraudulent, dishonest, or deceitful misstatement or omission in the application for a commission as a notary public submitted to the Office;

(3) a conviction of the applicant or notary public of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit;

(4) a finding against, or admission of liability by, the applicant or notary public in any legal proceeding or disciplinary action based on the applicant's or notary public's fraud, dishonesty, or deceit;

(5) failure by the notary public to discharge any duty required of a notary public, whether by this chapter, rules of the Office, or any federal or State law;

(6) use of false or misleading advertising or representation by the notary public representing that the notary has a duty, right, or privilege that the notary does not have;

(7) violation by the notary public of a rule of the Office regarding a notary public;

(8) denial, refusal to renew, revocation, suspension, or conditioning of a notary public commission in another state; or

(9) committing any of the conduct set forth in 3 V.S.A. § 129a(a).

(b) If the Office denies, refuses to renew, revokes, suspends, or imposes conditions on a commission as a notary public, the applicant or notary public is entitled to timely notice and hearing in accordance with 3 V.S.A. chapter 25. (Added 2017, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2019.)