As of 1997, which organization oversees the notary division?

• A. Clerk of Superior Court
• B. Georgia Bar Association
• C. Georgia Department of Public Safety
• D. Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA)

Answer: (C)

The key idea is identifying which state entity was responsible for regulating notaries in 1997. At that time, the Georgia Department of Public Safety handled oversight of the notary division, consolidating the regulation, records, and enforcement related to notaries under its purview to maintain uniform standards across the state. This reflects how certain state agencies were trusted with regulatory duties for notaries, separate from other roles played by different organizations.

The other options don’t fit because they serve different functions. The Clerk of Superior Court deals with court records and filings, not the regulatory oversight of notaries. The Georgia Bar Association is a professional organization for lawyers and does not regulate notary practices. The Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) provides services and support related to clerks and notaries but did not act as the primary regulator of the notary division in 1997.