By: Staples S.B. No. 1377
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain fees imposed by the secretary of state and the
maximum amount that may be imposed in connection with the adoption
of a child in another country.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 405.031, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (f) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
read as follows:
(a) The secretary of state shall charge for the use of the
state the following:
(1) for each official certificate, a fee of $15 [$10];
(2) for a certified copy of a record in the secretary
of state's office, a fee of $1 a page in addition to the fee for the
certificate;
(3) for preparing and furnishing for a corporation,
limited partnership, limited liability company, or registered
limited liability partnership a certificate of existence or
authorization that reflects any filing effecting changes to the
entity's organizational documents or certificate of registration
or authorization and the dates of those filings, a fee of $25; and
(4) for the maintenance by the secretary of state of a
record of the service of any process, notice, or demand authorized
to be made on the secretary of state as agent, and for forwarding
the process, notice, or demand, a fee of $40 per person or party
served through the secretary of state.
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), the secretary of
state shall charge for the use of the state a fee of $10 for the
issuance of an apostille requested for use in proceedings related
to the adoption of a child in another country, provided that the
total fees charged for apostilles issued in connection with the
adoption of one child may not exceed $100.
(f) A fee paid under Subsection (a), (a-1), (b), (c), or (d)
shall be paid in advance to the secretary of state's office.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.