| 1 | 1 | | 88R12865 AMF-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Bryant H.B. No. 3429 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to access to justice courts by legal aid offices or other |
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| 8 | 8 | | providers of pro bono legal services. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 27, Government Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 27.007 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 27.007. ACCESS TO JUSTICE COURTS FOR PROVISION OF PRO |
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| 13 | 13 | | BONO LEGAL SERVICES. On request of a legal aid office or other |
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| 14 | 14 | | provider of pro bono legal services, each justice of the peace shall |
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| 15 | 15 | | permit one or more representatives of the office or provider to be |
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| 16 | 16 | | present in the justice court, including during in-person or remote |
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| 17 | 17 | | proceedings, to conduct intakes or provide information, referrals, |
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| 18 | 18 | | or other legal services to eligible litigants. |
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| 19 | 19 | | SECTION 2. Section 38.12, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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| 20 | 20 | | Subsection (h-1) to read as follows: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (h-1) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (d) |
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| 22 | 22 | | that the attorney is engaged in conduct authorized under Section |
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| 23 | 23 | | 27.007, Government Code. |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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