KRS 423.355: Online notary public -- Electronic notarization -- Refusal to perform

notarial act -- Use of communication technology -- Registration --

Administrative regulations -- Application of state law.

(1) An online notary public:

(a) Shall be commissio ned as a notary public pursuant to KRS 423.300 to

423.455 and has the powers and duties of a traditional notary public as

provided by KRS 423.300 to 423.455;

(b) May perform notarial acts as provided by KRS 423.300 to 423.455 in addition

to performing electronic notarizations; and

(c) May, upon registration with the Secretary of State as an online notary public

pursuant to KRS 423.390, perform electronic notarizations authorized under

this section.

(2) An online notary public may perform an electronic notar ization provided the online

notary public is physically located in this state while performing the notarial act and

if:

(a) The online notary public has:

1. Personal knowledge of the identity of the individual pursuant to KRS

423.325; or

2. Satisfactory evidence of the identity of the individual pursuant to KRS

423.325(3); and

(b) At the time of electronic notarization:

1. The individual appearing before the online notary public is located

within this state, or elsewhere within the geographic boundaries of a

state of the United States; or

2. The individual is located outside the United States and:

a. The individual confirms to the online notary public that the record

is to be filed with or relates to a matter before a court,

governmental entity, public offic ial, or other entity located in the

territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or relates to property

located in the United States, or relates to a transaction substantially

connected to the United States; and

b. To the online notary publ ic's actual knowledge, the act of making

the statement or signing the record is not prohibited by the

jurisdiction in which the individual is located.

(3) In addition to the authority of a notary public to refuse to perform a notarial act

pursuant to KRS 423.330, a notary public may refuse to perform a notarial act under

this section if the notary public is not satisfied that a notarial act performed would

conform with subsection (2)(b)2. of this section.

(4) If a notarial act involves a statement made in o r a signature executed on an

electronic record by an individual by means of communication technology, the

certificate of notarial act required by KRS 423.360 shall indicate that the individual

making the statement or signing the record appeared before the online notary public

by means of communication technology.

(5) For each electronic notarization, the online notary public shall:

(a) Include, in addition to the journal entries required under KRS 423.380, an

indication of whether an individual making a sta tement or executing a

signature which is the subject of the notarial act appeared before the online

notary public in the notary's physical presence or by means of communication

technology;

(b) Create a complete recording of the conference session containin g the audio -

video communication between the online notary public and individual

appearing before the online notary public, in accordance with the standards

adopted under subsection (7) of this section and KRS 423.415; and

(c) Maintain the recording describ ed by paragraph (b) of this subsection for at

least ten (10) years after the date of the applicable transaction or proceeding or

for the period of retention of a notary public's journal pursuant to KRS

423.380, whichever is longer.

(6) Before an online not ary public performs any electronic notarizations under this

section, the online notary public shall register with the Secretary of State pursuant to

KRS 423.390.

(7) The Secretary of State may promulgate administrative regulations regarding the

performance of electronic notarizations. The administrative regulations may:

(a) Prescribe the means of performing a notarial act involving communication

technology;

(b) Establish standards for communication technology and the process of

credential analysis and identity proofing;

(c) Establish procedures for the requirements of providers of communication

technology; and

(d) Establish standards and requirements for the retention of a video and audio

copy of the performance of a notarial act.

(8) Regardless of the physi cal location of the individual at the time of the notarial act,

the validity of an electronic notarization performed by an online notary public

commissioned in this state shall be determined by applying the laws of this state.

(9) An online notary public shall take reasonable steps to ensure that:

(a) Any registered device or credential used to create an electronic signature is

current and has not been revoked or terminated by the device's or credential's

issuing or registering authority;

(b) The audio -video communication used in an electronic notarization is secure

from unauthorized interception or use;

(c) A backup exists for all information pertaining to an electronic notarization

required to be kept by administrative regulations promulgated pursuant to

subsection (7) of this section and KRS 423.415; and

(d) The backup described by paragraph (c) of this subsection is secure from

unauthorized use.