By Allen                                              H.B. No. 3249
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to permitting local prosecutors to accept federal funds
 1-3     for the purpose of defraying a portion of the cost of prosecution.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 41.004, Government Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 41.004.  Acceptance of Reward.  (a)  A district or
 1-8     county attorney, either before or after the case is tried and
 1-9     finally determined, may not take from any person a fee, article of
1-10     value, compensation, reward, or gift, or a promise of any of these,
1-11     to prosecute a case that he is required by law to prosecute or as
1-12     consideration or a testimonial for his services in a case that he
1-13     is required by law to prosecute.
1-14           (b)  Section 41.004(a) does not apply to funds provided by
1-15     the government of the United States through the Texas Department of
1-16     Human Services to local prosecutorial offices for the purpose of
1-17     assisting to defray the costs of prosecutions.
1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-24     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-1     passage, and it is so enacted.