BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1377
79R3561 KKA-D By: Staples
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Section 405.301, Government Code, requires the secretary of state to charge a $10 fee for each official certificate, including apostilles, regardless of the number needed. Currently, individuals seeking to adopt a child in another country may spend over $500 for apostilles in adoption proceedings for one child.
As proposed, S.B. 1377 limits the amount the secretary of state can charge for apostilles requested for use in proceedings related to the adoption of a child in another country to $100, regardless of the number of apostilles requested in conjunction with the adoption of that child.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 405.031, Government Code, by adding Subsection (g) to prohibit the secretary of state from charging more than a total of $100 under Subsection (a)(1) (requiring the secretary of state to charge a $10 fee for each official certificate) for the issuance of apostilles requested for use in proceedings related to the adoption of a child in another country, regardless of the number of apostilles requested in connection with the adoption of that child.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.