By: Holzheauser H.B. No. 464 73R2880 RJA-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to referral fees received by district and county 1-3 attorneys. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 41, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 41.014 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 41.014. REFERRAL FEES PROHIBITED. A district or county 1-8 attorney may not collect a fee for referring a civil case to 1-9 another attorney or law firm. 1-10 SECTION 2. This Act applies only to collection of fees for 1-11 referrals of civil cases made on or after the effective date of 1-12 this Act. The collection of a fee for a referral made before the 1-13 effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect at the 1-14 time the referral was made, and that law is continued in effect for 1-15 that purpose. 1-16 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-21 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-22 passage, and it is so enacted.