The Florida Senate

117.20  Electronic notarization.--

(1)  The provisions of ss. 117.01, 117.03, 117.04, 117.05(1)-(14) and (16), 117.105, and 117.107 apply to all notarizations under this section except as set forth in this section.

(2)  An electronic notarization shall include the name of the notary public, exactly as commissioned, the date of expiration of the commission of the notary public, the commission number, and the notary's digital signature. Neither a rubber stamp seal nor an impression-type seal is required for an electronic notarization.

(3)  Any notary public who seeks to perform electronic notarizations and obtains a certificate from any certification authority, as defined in s. 282.72(2), shall request an amended commission from the Secretary of State as set forth in s. 117.05(11). The Secretary of State shall issue an amended commission to the notary public indicating that the notary is a subscriber to the certification authority identified in the notary's request for an amended commission. After requesting an amended commission, the notary public may continue to perform notarial acts, but may not use his or her digital signature in the performance of notarial acts until receipt of the amended commission. Any fees collected from such amended commissions shall be used to fund the Secretary of State's administration of electronic notary commissions.

(4)  If the notary public's private key corresponding to his or her public key has been compromised, the notary public shall immediately notify the Secretary of State in writing of the breach of security and shall request the issuing certification authority to suspend or revoke the certificate.

(5)  Failure to comply with this section constitutes grounds for suspension from office by the Governor.

History.--s. 2, ch. 97-241.