HBA-CBW, SEP H.B. 451 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 451 By: Talton Criminal Jurisprudence 3/18/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, in personal bond offices, an employee must be a notary public to administer an oath to a defendant in a trial. Because of the volume of oaths administered, many employees must be notaries public to ensure that the oath to a defendant is witnessed 24 hours a day at multiple locations. In Harris County alone, personal bond office employees administer roughly 60,000 personal bond oaths each year while preparing the necessary paperwork for a defendant's initial court hearing. House Bill 451 authorizes an employee of a personal bond office to administer an oath and give a certificate of the fact, if the oath is required or authorized by law. 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 451 amends the Government Code to authorize employees of personal bond offices to administer an oath, and give a certificate of the fact. The bill amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to authorize employees of personal bond offices to take an acknowledgment or proof of a written instrument. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.