73R1158 DAK-D
          By Thompson of Harris                                   H.B. No. 38
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to fees charged by a notary public.
    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 may charge the following fees:
    1-7              (1)  for protesting a bill or note for nonacceptance or
    1-8  nonpayment, register and seal, a fee of $5 <$3>;
    1-9              (2)  for each notice of protest, a fee of $1 <50
   1-10  cents>;
   1-11              (3)  for protesting in all other cases, a fee of $5 <50
   1-12  cents for each 100 words>;
   1-13              (4)  for certificate and seal to a protest, a fee of $5
   1-14  <$3>;
   1-15              (5)  for taking the acknowledgment or proof of a deed
   1-16  or other instrument in writing, for registration, including
   1-17  certificate and seal, a fee of $10 <$5> for the first signature and
   1-18  $1 for each additional signature;
   1-19              (6)  for administering an oath or affirmation with
   1-20  certificate and seal, a fee of $7 <$5>;
   1-21              (7)  for a certificate under seal not otherwise
   1-22  provided for, a fee of $10 <$5>;
   1-23              (8)  for a copy of a record or paper in the notary
   1-24  public's office, a fee of 50 cents for each page;
    2-1              (9)  for taking the deposition of a witness, 50 cents
    2-2  for each 100 words;
    2-3              (10)  for swearing a witness to a deposition,
    2-4  certificate, seal, and other business connected with taking the
    2-5  deposition, a fee of $7 <$5>; and
    2-6              (11)  for a notarial act not provided for, a fee of $10
    2-7  <$5>.
    2-8        SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
    2-9        (b)  This Act applies only to a fee charged for a notary
   2-10  service rendered on or after the effective date of this Act.  A fee
   2-11  charged for a notary service rendered before the effective date of
   2-12  this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the service
   2-13  was rendered, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
   2-14        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-15  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-16  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-17  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-18  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   2-19                       COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
   2-20        Amend HB 38 by Thompson in the following manner:
   2-21        On page 1, line 6 after the word "public" add the words "or
   2-22  employer of such notary public".
   2-23                                                               Carter