LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE 74th Regular Session April 23, 1995 TO: Honorable Ken Armbrister, Chair IN RE: Senate Bill No. Committee on State Affairs 1391, Senate as amended Austin, Texas By: Ellis FROM: John Keel, Director In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No. 1391 (Relating to records and seals of notaries public and to qualification as a notary public.) this office has determined the following: The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill would streamline the procedure for commissioning a notary public by consolidating the current two-step procedure for qualification into one step. In addition, the same application form would be used for obtaining both new and renewal commissions. The form would contain all the elements necessary for qualification as a notary public. The bill would eliminate the requirement for the Secretary of State to mail an application for reappointment to notaries whose commissions are expiring. It also increases the amount of the notary bond from $2,500.00 to $10,000.00. The bill would provide for the use of existing stocks of notary commissions when either the Governor or the Secretary of State ceases to hold or perform the duties of office. The savings to general revenue is based on the estimated savings for printing and postage costs that will result from combining the commissioning procedure into a one-step process and from eliminating the mailing of renewal notices. The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of the bill during each of the first five years following passage is estimated as follows, per estimate of the Office of Secretary of State: Fiscal Probable Savings Change in Year to General Number of State Revenue Fund 001 Employees from FY 1995 1996 $48,624 .0 1997 56,244 .0 1998 43,644 .0 1999 41,544 .0 2000 52,044 .0 Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the provisions of the bill are in effect. No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source: Secretary of State LBB Staff: JK, BR, RR