85R5231 SCL-F
By: RodrÃguez S.B. No. 665
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to education requirements for a notary public appointment;
authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 406, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 406.0045 to read as follows:
Sec. 406.0045. REQUIRED EDUCATIONAL COURSE. (a) An
applicant for an appointment as a notary public shall complete an
educational course approved by the secretary of state. The
educational course may be an online, self-study, or classroom
course.
(b) The secretary of state shall adopt rules necessary to
implement the educational course requirement imposed by Subsection
(a). The rules must:
(1) establish the standards for an educational course;
(2) establish the procedures for approving an
educational course; and
(3) set a nonrefundable vendor application and renewal
fee for a vendor of an educational course in an amount sufficient to
administer this section.
(c) The secretary of state shall provide a free educational
course for purposes of Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Section 406.005, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) An application under this section must include a
statement that the applicant has completed an educational course
required by Section 406.0045.
SECTION 3. Section 406.006, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 406.006. QUALIFICATION. An individual qualifies by:
(1) properly completing the application form;
(2) executing the statement;
(3) providing the bond, if required;
(4) paying the required filing fees; [and]
(5) meeting the eligibility requirements; and
(6) providing a statement of completion of an
educational course required by Section 406.0045.
SECTION 4. Section 406.007(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The applicant must submit to the secretary of state:
(1) a fee of $10 for approving and filing the bond of
the notary public, if required; and
(2) a fee of $1 to be appropriated to and used by the
secretary of state [only] for:
(A) hiring an investigator;
(B) administering and managing an educational
course under Section 406.0045(c); and
(C) [for] preparing and distributing the
materials required to be distributed under Section 406.008.
SECTION 5. Section 406.011, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A notary public reappointed before the expiration of the
notary's term is not required to complete an educational course
described by Section 406.0045.
SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an application for a notary public appointment filed on or after
September 1, 2018. An application filed before September 1, 2018,
is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.