SRC-JEC S.B. 276 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 276 77R2966 MXM-FBy: Shapleigh Jurisprudence 2/20/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, state law precludes electronic notarization because the notarization must be accompanied by a raised or embossed seal, which is not possible in an electronic format. As proposed, S.B. 276 permits, but does not require, the use of electronic notarization. It does not change the responsibilities of notaries public. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 121.004, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, to add Subsection (d), to provide that the application of an embossed seal is not required on an electronically transmitted certificate of an acknowledgement. SECTION 2. Amends Section 406.013, Government Code, to add Subsection (d), to provide that Subsection (c) is not applicable to an electronically transmitted authenticated document, except that an electronically transmitted authenticated document is required to legibly reproduce the required elements of the seal. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.