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.