1. (1) The Secretary of State 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. (a) Failure to comply with KRS 423.300 to 423.455;
   2. (b) A fraudulent, dishonest, or deceitful misstatement or omission in the application for a commission as a notary public submitted to the Secretary of State;
   3. (c) A conviction of the applicant or notary public of any felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty, or deceit;
   4. (d) 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. (e) Failure by the notary public to discharge any duty required of a notary public, whether by KRS 423.300 to 423.455, administrative regulations promulgated by the Secretary of State, or any federal or state law;
   6. (f) 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. (g) Violation by the notary public of an administrative regulation of the Secretary of State regarding a notary public;
   8. (h) Denial, refusal to renew, revocation, or suspension of a notary public commission in another state; or
   9. (i) Failure of the notary public to maintain an assurance.
2. (2) The authority of the Secretary of State to deny, refuse to renew, suspend, revoke, or impose conditions on a commission as a notary public does not prevent a person from seeking and obtaining other criminal or civil remedies provided by law.

Effective: January 1, 2020

History: Created 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 86, sec. 20, effective January 1, 2020.