By West                                                H.B. No. 233
         76R2258 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, 1999.
1-18           (b)  Notwithstanding the change in law made by Section 1 of
1-19     this Act, before January 1, 2000, 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.