84R15417 EES-D
By: Geren H.B. No. 1531
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1531:
By: Larson C.S.H.B. No. 1531
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal
services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a
criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 572.063 to read as follows:
Sec. 572.063. CERTAIN REFERRALS FOR LEGAL SERVICES
PROHIBITED. (a) A member of the legislature or an executive
officer elected in a statewide election who is a member of the State
Bar of Texas or who is licensed to practice law in another state, a
federal court, or a United States territory may make or receive a
referral for legal services for monetary compensation or any other
benefit only if the referral:
(1) complies with the rules of the State Bar of Texas;
and
(2) is evidenced by a written contract between the
parties who are subject to the referral.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this
section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to conduct that occurred on or after the effective date of this Act.
Conduct that occurred before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and
the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, conduct occurred before the effective
date of this Act if any part of the conduct occurred before that
date.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.