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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to education requirements for a notary public appointment; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 406, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 406.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 406.0045. REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL COURSE. (a) An |
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applicant for an appointment as a notary public shall complete an |
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educational course approved by the secretary of state. The |
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educational course may be an online, self-study, or classroom |
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course. |
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(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary to |
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implement the educational course requirement imposed by Subsection |
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(a). The rules must: |
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(1) establish the standards for an educational course; |
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(2) establish the procedures for approving an |
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educational course; and |
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(3) set a nonrefundable vendor application and renewal |
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fee for a vendor of an educational course in an amount sufficient to |
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administer this section. |
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(c) The secretary of state shall provide a free educational |
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course for purposes of Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 406.005, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) An application under this section must include a |
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statement that the applicant has completed an educational course |
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required by Section 406.0045. |
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SECTION 3. Section 406.006, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 406.006. QUALIFICATION. An individual qualifies by: |
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(1) properly completing the application form; |
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(2) executing the statement; |
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(3) providing the bond, if required; |
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(4) paying the required filing fees; [and] |
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(5) meeting the eligibility requirements; and |
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(6) providing a statement of completion of an |
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educational course required by Section 406.0045. |
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SECTION 4. Section 406.007(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The applicant must submit to the secretary of state: |
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(1) a fee of $10 for approving and filing the bond of |
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the notary public, if required; and |
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(2) a fee of $1 to be appropriated to and used by the |
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secretary of state [only] for: |
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(A) hiring an investigator; |
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(B) administering and managing an educational |
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course under Section 406.0045(c); and |
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(C) [for] preparing and distributing the |
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materials required to be distributed under Section 406.008. |
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SECTION 5. Section 406.011, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A notary public reappointed before the expiration of the |
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notary's term is not required to complete an educational course |
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described by Section 406.0045. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an application for a notary public appointment filed on or after |
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September 1, 2018. An application filed before September 1, 2018, |
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is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |