1-1     By:  Wolens (Senate Sponsor - Duncan)                 H.B. No. 1507
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 22, 1999;
 1-3     April 23, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Jurisprudence; May 11, 1999, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 11, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the definition of the practice of law.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  Section 81.101, Government Code, is amended by
1-11     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-12           (c)  In this chapter, the "practice of law" does not include
1-13     the design, creation, publication, distribution, display, or sale,
1-14     including publication, distribution, display, or sale by means of
1-15     an Internet web site, of written materials, books, forms, computer
1-16     software, or similar products if the products clearly and
1-17     conspicuously state that the products are not a substitute for the
1-18     advice of an attorney.  This subsection does not authorize the use
1-19     of the products or similar media in violation of Chapter 83 and
1-20     does not affect the applicability or enforceability of that
1-21     chapter.
1-22           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-25     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-26     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-27     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-28     passage, and it is so enacted.
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