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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.