Section 169.16. Certificate of registration required

(A) No person, on behalf of any other person, shall engage in any activity for the purpose of locating, delivering, recovering, or assisting in the recovery of unclaimed funds or contents of a safe deposit box, and receive a fee, compensation, commission, or other remuneration for such activity, without first having obtained a certificate of registration from the director of commerce in accordance with this section.

(B) An application for a certificate of registration shall be in writing and in the form prescribed by the director. The application shall be accompanied by a recent full-face color photograph of the applicant and notarized character reference letters from two reputable character witnesses. The application shall, at a minimum, provide all of the following:

(1) The applicant's full name, home address, and work address;

(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the two character witnesses who have provided the character reference letters;

(3) A statement that the applicant has not, during the ten-year period immediately preceding the submission of the application, violated division (A) of this section on or after the effective date of this section, or division (C) of section 169.13 of the Revised Code, or been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any felony or any offense involving moral turpitude, including theft, attempted theft, falsification, tampering with records, securing writings by deception, fraud, forgery, and perjury;

(4) The notarized signature of the applicant immediately following an acknowledgment that any false or perjured statement subjects the applicant to criminal liability under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code.

(C) Upon the filing of the application with the division of unclaimed funds, the division may investigate the applicant to verify the information provided in the application and to determine the applicant's eligibility for a certificate of registration under this section. False information on an application is grounds for the denial or revocation of the applicant's certificate of registration.

(D) The director shall issue a certificate of registration to an applicant if the director finds that the following conditions are met:

(1) The applicant has not, during the ten-year period immediately preceding the submission of the application, violated division (A) of this section on or after the effective date of this section, or division (C) of section 169.13 of the Revised Code, or been convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, any felony or any offense involving moral turpitude, including theft, attempted theft, falsification, tampering with records, securing writings by deception, fraud, forgery, and perjury.

(2) The applicant's character and general fitness command the confidence of the public and warrant the belief that the applicant's business will be conducted honestly and fairly.

(E) The certificate of registration issued pursuant to division (D) of this section may be renewed annually if the director finds that the following conditions are met:

(1) The applicant submits a renewal application form prescribed by the director.

(2) The applicant meets the conditions set forth in division (D) of this section.

(3) The applicant's certificate of registration is not subject to an order of revocation by the director.

Effective Date: 2006 SB223 03-23-2007