LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 14, 2017 TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1217 by Parker (Relating to appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments; authorizing a fee and creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and maintain standards for certain online notarizations, as well as confer with the Department of Information Resources (DIR) or other appropriate state agency on the related components of those standards. The bill would provide requirements related to the application and qualifications to become an online notary public, as well as duties and responsibilities of an online notary described in the bill. According to SOS, the agency will need to modify its current system to allow it to accept an application to become an online notary. LBB analysis assumes 1.0 additional FTE would be required to do this, which could be absorbed within existing resources. The bill would authorize SOS to charge a fee for an application to become an online notary public in an amount necessary to administer related agency responsibilities. It is assumed this revenue would be deposited to the General Revenue Fund. SOS indicates that fee revenue would not be significant in the biennium and the Comptroller of Public Accounts indicated the amount cannot be determined. No fiscal impact is anticipated by DIR. No significant fiscal impact is anticipated for SOS and it is assumed the agency can accomplish the provisions of the bill within existing resources. The bill would take effect July 1, 2018. Local Government Impact The bill would make the wrongful possession of related software or hardware described in the bill a criminal offense, classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed on year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication. Source Agencies:307 Secretary of State, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources LBB Staff: UP, AG, MMe, PM, DFR, JGA, ASa, CL, RC
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 14, 2017
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB1217 by Parker (Relating to appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments; authorizing a fee and creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed
TO: Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB1217 by Parker (Relating to appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments; authorizing a fee and creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Honorable Joan Huffman, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB1217 by Parker (Relating to appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments; authorizing a fee and creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed
HB1217 by Parker (Relating to appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments; authorizing a fee and creating a criminal offense.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require the Secretary of State (SOS) to develop and maintain standards for certain online notarizations, as well as confer with the Department of Information Resources (DIR) or other appropriate state agency on the related components of those standards. The bill would provide requirements related to the application and qualifications to become an online notary public, as well as duties and responsibilities of an online notary described in the bill. According to SOS, the agency will need to modify its current system to allow it to accept an application to become an online notary. LBB analysis assumes 1.0 additional FTE would be required to do this, which could be absorbed within existing resources. The bill would authorize SOS to charge a fee for an application to become an online notary public in an amount necessary to administer related agency responsibilities. It is assumed this revenue would be deposited to the General Revenue Fund. SOS indicates that fee revenue would not be significant in the biennium and the Comptroller of Public Accounts indicated the amount cannot be determined. No fiscal impact is anticipated by DIR. No significant fiscal impact is anticipated for SOS and it is assumed the agency can accomplish the provisions of the bill within existing resources. The bill would take effect July 1, 2018.
Local Government Impact
The bill would make the wrongful possession of related software or hardware described in the bill a criminal offense, classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed on year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.
Source Agencies: 307 Secretary of State, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources
307 Secretary of State, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 313 Department of Information Resources
LBB Staff: UP, AG, MMe, PM, DFR, JGA, ASa, CL, RC
UP, AG, MMe, PM, DFR, JGA, ASa, CL, RC