SRC-AXB S.B. 570 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 570
76R5772  WP-FBy: Shapiro
State Affairs
3/2/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Texas Government Code authorizes the secretary of state to
collect fees for the expedited handling, processing, and review of
documents, financing statements, and liens.  This bill would increase the
filing fees, and authorize the secretary of state to revoke the filing of
any documents for which the filing fee has not been paid. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 570 increases filing fees the secretary of state is
authorized to collect for filing and handling certain documents, and
authorizes the secretary of state to revoke the filing of any document with
an unpaid filing fee. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 405.032(a), Government Code, to authorize the
secretary of state to collect a maximum fee of $15, rather than $5, for the
handling of a document in the security interest and financing statement
records of the secretary, rather than a document under certain chapters of
the Business & Commerce Code and the Property Code.  Authorizes the
secretary of state to collect a maximum fee of $25, rather than $10, for
the filing or reviewing of a document relating to an unincorporated
nonprofit association.  Authorizes the secretary of state to collect a
maximum fee of $10, rather than $5, for handling a request for information
contained in a document filed for public record with the corporations
section of the office of the secretary of state. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 405.033, Government Code, to delete the
qualification that the secretary of state is authorized to revoke a
document if it is filed by or on behalf of a corporation, thereby
authorizing the secretary of state to revoke any document with an unpaid or
dishonored filing fee. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.