By: Turner of Harris H.B. No. 2517
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the dedication of certain civil penalties for
violations of the Business & Commerce Code to provide civil legal
services to the indigent.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 402.007, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 402.007. PAYMENT TO TREASURY; ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN
PENALTIES. (a) The attorney general shall immediately pay into the
state treasury money received for a debt or penalty.
(b) The comptroller shall credit to the judicial fund for
programs approved by the supreme court that provide basic civil
legal services to the indigent a civil penalty that is recovered in
an action by the attorney general in any matter that is actionable
under the Deceptive Trade Practice Act except when the terms of the
judgment require that the payment be made to another named
recipient. The net funds transferred shall paid only after the
deduction of all funds that are payable to the Office of Attorney
General.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
civil penalty in an action by the attorney general under a provision
of the Business & Commerce Code that is received on or after the
effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.