BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1703

By: Fraser

State Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the United States Postal Service charges an additional fee of $2.70 to send an item by certified mail, charges $2.20 for a return receipt, and assesses an additional registered mail fee starting at $10. In October 2008, fees for certified and registered mail and return receipts cost the secretary of state over $8,800. Projected over a year, these delivery costs exceed $106,000.

S.B. 1703 authorizes the secretary of state, when required by law to make a delivery using registered or certified mail, to use an alternative method of delivery if the secretary of state determines that the alternative method provides similar levels of accountability, timeliness, security, and quality of service.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1703 amends the Government Code to authorize the secretary of state, when required by law to make a delivery using registered or certified mail, to use an alternative method of delivery if the secretary of state determines that the alternative method of delivery provides similar levels of accountability, timeliness, security, and quality of service.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.