1-1 By: Thompson (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos) H.B. No. 172
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 3, 1995;
1-3 April 4, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Jurisprudence; May 9, 1995, reported favorably by the following
1-5 vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 9, 1995, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to notary public fees.
1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10 SECTION 1. Section 406.024(a), Government Code, is amended
1-11 to read as follows:
1-12 (a) A notary public or its employer may charge the following
1-13 fees:
1-14 (1) for protesting a bill or note for nonacceptance or
1-15 nonpayment, register and seal, a fee of $4 <$3>;
1-16 (2) for each notice of protest, a fee of $1 <50
1-17 cents>;
1-18 (3) for protesting in all other cases, a fee of $4 <50
1-19 cents for each 100 words>;
1-20 (4) for certificate and seal to a protest, a fee of $4
1-21 <$3>;
1-22 (5) for taking the acknowledgment or proof of a deed
1-23 or other instrument in writing, for registration, including
1-24 certificate and seal, a fee of $6 <$5> for the first signature and
1-25 $1 for each additional signature;
1-26 (6) for administering an oath or affirmation with
1-27 certificate and seal, a fee of $6 <$5>;
1-28 (7) for a certificate under seal not otherwise
1-29 provided for, a fee of $6 <$5>;
1-30 (8) for a copy of a record or paper in the notary
1-31 public's office, a fee of 50 cents for each page;
1-32 (9) for taking the deposition of a witness, 50 cents
1-33 for each 100 words;
1-34 (10) for swearing a witness to a deposition,
1-35 certificate, seal, and other business connected with taking the
1-36 deposition, a fee of $6 <$5>; and
1-37 (11) for a notarial act not provided for, a fee of $6
1-38 <$5>.
1-39 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
1-40 (b) This Act applies only to a fee charged for a notary
1-41 service rendered on or after the effective date of this Act. A fee
1-42 charged for a notary service rendered before the effective date of
1-43 this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the service
1-44 was rendered, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-45 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-46 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-47 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-48 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-49 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
1-50 * * * * *