By: Rodríguez  S.B. No. 665
         (In the Senate - Filed January 30, 2017; February 15, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  April 12, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 4; April 12, 2017,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 665 By:  Hughes
 
 
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 initial 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 may provide an educational course
  to satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a).
         (d)  A fee received by the secretary of state under
  Subsection (b)(3) must be appropriated to and used by the secretary
  of state to administer this section.
         SECTION 2.  Section 406.005, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  An application for an initial appointment 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 if 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)  Section 406.0045 does not apply to a notary public
  applying for reappointment under this section.
         SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  an application for a notary public appointment received  and
  qualified on or after September 1, 2018. An application received
  and qualified 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 January 1, 2018.
 
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