1-1 By: Brown S.B. No. 768 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 25, 1997; February 27, 1997, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 May 6, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, 1-5 Nays 0; May 6, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the authority of the Texas Supreme Court to adopt rules 1-9 relating to the contractual relationship between an attorney and 1-10 client. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 2, Government Code, is amended 1-13 by adding Chapter 84 to read as follows: 1-14 CHAPTER 84. RULES RELATING TO ATTORNEY'S FEES 1-15 Sec. 84.001. CERTAIN RULES PROHIBITED. The supreme court 1-16 may not adopt a rule that: 1-17 (1) interferes with an attorney's ability to contract 1-18 in the free market to provide legal services for a fee; or 1-19 (2) discourages competition among attorneys to provide 1-20 legal services at reasonable fees. 1-21 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-27 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-28 * * * * *