(1) As used in this section:

(a) ‘Communication technology’ means an electronic device or process that:

(A) Allows a notary public and a remotely located individual to communicate with each other simultaneously by sight and sound; and

(B) When necessary and consistent with other applicable law, facilitates communication with a remotely located individual who has a visual, hearing or speech impairment.

(b) ‘Foreign state’ means a jurisdiction other than the United States, a state or a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(c) ‘Identity proofing’ means a process or service by which a third person provides a notary public with a means to verify the identity of a remotely located individual by a review of personal information from public or private data sources.

(d) ‘Outside the United States’ means a location outside the geographic boundaries of the United States, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and any territory, insular possession or other location subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(e) ‘Remotely located individual’ means an individual who is not in the physical presence of the notary public who performs a notarial act under subsection (3) of this section.

(2) A remotely located individual may comply with ORS § 194.235 by using communication technology to appear before a notary public.

(3) A notary public located in this state may perform a notarial act using communication technology for a remotely located individual if:

(a) The notary public:

(A) Has personal knowledge under ORS § 194.240 (1) of the identity of the remotely located individual;

(B) Has satisfactory evidence of the identity of the remotely located individual by a verification on oath or affirmation from a credible witness appearing before and identified by the notary public as a remotely located individual under this section or in the physical presence of the notary public under ORS § 194.240 (2); or

(C) Has obtained satisfactory evidence of the identity of the remotely located individual by using at least two different types of identity proofing;

(b) The notary public is reasonably able to confirm that a record before the notary public is the same record in which the remotely located individual made a statement or on which the individual executed a signature;

(c) The notary public, or a person acting on behalf of the notary public, creates an audiovisual recording of the performance of the notarial act; and

(d) For a remotely located individual who is located outside the United States:

(A) The record:

(i) Is to be filed with or relates to a matter before a public official or court, governmental entity or other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or

(ii) Involves property located in the territorial jurisdiction of the United States or involves a transaction substantially connected with the United States; and

(B) The act of making the statement or signing the record is not prohibited by the foreign state in which the remotely located individual is located.

(4) If a notarial act is performed under this section, the certificate of notarial act required by ORS § 194.280 and the short form certificate provided in ORS § 194.285 must indicate that the notarial act was performed using communication technology.

(5) A short form certificate provided in ORS § 194.285 for a notarial act subject to this section is sufficient if it:

(a) Complies with rules adopted under subsection (8)(a) of this section; or

(b) Is in the form provided in ORS § 194.285 and contains a statement substantially as follows: ‘This notarial act involved the use of communication technology.’

(6) A notary public, a guardian, conservator, trustee or agent of a notary public, or a personal representative of a deceased notary public shall retain the audiovisual recording created under subsection (3)(c) of this section or cause the recording to be retained by a repository designated by or on behalf of the person required to retain the recording. Unless a different period is required by rule adopted under subsection (8)(d) of this section, the recording must be maintained for a period of at least 10 years after the recording is made.

(7) Before a notary public performs the notary public’s initial notarial act under this section, the notary public shall notify the Secretary of State that the notary public will be performing notarial acts with respect to remotely located individuals and identify the technologies the notary public intends to use. If the Secretary of State has established standards under subsection (8) of this section or ORS § 194.360 for approval of communication technology or identity proofing, the communication technology and identity proofing used by the notary public must conform to those standards.

(8) In addition to adopting rules under ORS § 194.360, the Secretary of State may adopt rules under this section regarding the performance of a notarial act. The rules may:

(a) Prescribe the means of performing a notarial act involving a remotely located individual using communication technology;

(b) Establish standards for communication technology and identity proofing;

(c) Establish requirements or procedures to approve providers of communication technology and the process of identity proofing; and

(d) Establish standards and a period for the retention of an audiovisual recording created under subsection (3)(c) of this section.

(9) Before adopting, amending or repealing a rule governing the performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual, the Secretary of State shall consider:

(a) The most recent standards regarding the performance of a notarial act with respect to a remotely located individual promulgated by national standard-setting organizations and the recommendations of the National Association of Secretaries of State;

(b) Standards, practices and customs of other jurisdictions that have laws substantially similar to this section; and

(c) The views of governmental officials and entities and other interested persons. [2020 s.s.1 c.12 § 20]