(a) After an applicant submits to the clerk of superior court of the county the application, endorsements, and declaration of applicant as required in Code Section 45-17-2.1, the clerk of superior court shall either grant or deny a commission as a notary public within ten days following the applicant's submission of the necessary documents.

(b) The clerk of superior court may in his discretion deny a commission to an applicant based on any of the following grounds:

(1) The applicant's criminal history;

(2) Revocation, suspension, or restriction of any notary commission or professional license issued to the applicant by this or any other state; or

(3) The commission in this or any state of any act enumerated in subsection (a) of Code Section 45-17-15, whether or not criminal penalties or commission suspension or revocation resulted.

(c) Any applicant who is denied a notarial commission by the clerk of superior court shall upon demand be allowed a hearing and adjudication before the superior court clerk with a right of de novo appeal to the superior court, such appeal to be determined by the court without the intervention of a jury.