By West                                          H.B. No. 335

      75R2459 DLF-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the seal of a notary public.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Sections 406.013(a) and (b), Government Code, are

 1-5     amended to read as follows:

 1-6           (a)  A notary public shall provide a seal of office that

 1-7     clearly shows, when embossed, stamped, or printed on a document,

 1-8     the words "Notary Public, State of Texas" around a star of five

 1-9     points, the notary public's name, mailing address, and telephone

1-10     number, and the date the notary public's commission expires.  The

1-11     notary  public shall authenticate all official acts with the seal

1-12     of office.

1-13           (b)  The seal may be a circular form not more than three

1-14     [two] inches in diameter or a rectangular form not more than three

1-15     inches [one inch] in width and 2 1/2 inches in length.  The seal

1-16     must have a serrated or milled edge border.

1-17           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-18           (b)  Notwithstanding the change in law made by Section 1 of

1-19     this Act, before January 1, 1998, a notary public may use a seal

1-20     that complies with the requirements of Section 406.013, Government

1-21     Code, as it existed before the effective date of this Act.

1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.