Renewal of commission.

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, a commission for a notary public appointed prior to the effective date of this section shall remain valid until that commission's expiration date. (2) A commission issued to an attorney shall be governed by section 147.03 of the Revised Code. (B) A commission that is set to expire as described in section 147.03 of the Revised Code or as in division (A) of this section shall not be renewed unless the notary submits to the secretary of state through the entities authorized in section 147.021 of the Revised Code all of the following: (1) A new criminal records check report as required under division (B)(3) of section 147.01 of the Revised Code; (2) A fee of not more than sixty dollars, set by the secretary of state in a rule adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code; (3) An application for renewal on a form prescribed by the secretary. (C) A notary public may apply to renew the notary's commission beginning three months prior to the expiration date of the commission. (D) If the notary public's commission expires before the notary submits the application for renewal, the secretary of state shall not renew that expired commission but shall permit the person to apply for a new notary commission.