HBA-BSM H.B. 3506 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3506
By: Maxey
Judicial Affairs
4/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, a notary public is authorized to charge a maximum fee of
$6 for the notary's services.  However, some notaries may be getting around
this maximum fee by charging a travel fee that can be several times higher
than the maximum fee.  There are no current state provisions that address
this issue. House Bill 3506 prohibits a notary public from adding any
additional costs to the authorized fees for travel expenses or any other
incidental expenses associated with notary public services. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3506 amends the Government Code to prohibit a notary public from
adding any additional costs to the authorized fees for travel expenses or
any other incidental expenses associated with the services for which the
notary public may charge the authorized fee.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.