By Thompson of Harris                                   H.B. No. 38
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to fees charged for notary public services.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 406.024(a), Government Code, is amended
    1-5  to read as follows:
    1-6        (a)  A notary public or employer of such notary public may
    1-7  charge the following fees:
    1-8              (1)  for protesting a bill or note for nonacceptance or
    1-9  nonpayment, register and seal, a fee of $5 <$3>;
   1-10              (2)  for each notice of protest, a fee of $1 <50
   1-11  cents>;
   1-12              (3)  for protesting in all other cases, a fee of $5 <50
   1-13  cents for each 100 words>;
   1-14              (4)  for certificate and seal to a protest, a fee of $5
   1-15  <$3>;
   1-16              (5)  for taking the acknowledgment or proof of a deed
   1-17  or other instrument in writing, for registration, including
   1-18  certificate and seal, a fee of $10 <$5> for the first signature and
   1-19  $1 for each additional signature;
   1-20              (6)  for administering an oath or affirmation with
   1-21  certificate and seal, a fee of $7 <$5>;
   1-22              (7)  for a certificate under seal not otherwise
   1-23  provided for, a fee of $10 <$5>;
   1-24              (8)  for a copy of a record or paper in the notary
    2-1  public's office, a fee of 50 cents for each page;
    2-2              (9)  for taking the deposition of a witness, 50 cents
    2-3  for each 100 words;
    2-4              (10)  for swearing a witness to a deposition,
    2-5  certificate, seal, and other business connected with taking the
    2-6  deposition, a fee of $7 <$5>; and
    2-7              (11)  for a notarial act not provided for, a fee of $10
    2-8  <$5>.
    2-9        SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   2-10        (b)  This Act applies only to a fee charged for a notary
   2-11  service rendered on or after the effective date of this Act.  A fee
   2-12  charged for a notary service rendered before the effective date of
   2-13  this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the service
   2-14  was rendered, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
   2-15        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-16  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-17  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-18  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-19  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.