BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2987
                                             By: Seidlits (Brown)
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          5-17-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, the supreme court is authorized to set certain rules
that have a large impact on the legal industry. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2987 prohibits the supreme court from adopting
certain rules that restrict the contractual relationship between an
attorney and a client or that discourage competition.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Title 2G, Government Code, by adding Chapter 84,
as follows:

          CHAPTER 84.  RULES RELATING TO ATTORNEY'S FEES

     Sec. 84.001.  CERTAIN RULES PROHIBITED.  Prohibits the supreme
     court from adopting a rule that interferes with an attorney's
     ability to contract in the free market to provide legal
     services for a fee or discourages competition among attorneys
     to provide legal services at reasonable fees.
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.