By: Luna S.B. No. 491 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to legal services provided to school districts. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 44, Education Code, is 1-4 amended by adding Section 44.042 to read as follows: 1-5 Sec. 44.042. CONTRACTS FOR LEGAL SERVICES. (a) A contract 1-6 for legal services that purports to bind a school district for a 1-7 fixed term of longer than one year may be voided by the district. 1-8 (b) This section does not apply to a contract for the 1-9 provision of legal services: 1-10 (1) by a salaried employee of the district; 1-11 (2) to collect delinquent property taxes for the 1-12 district; 1-13 (3) to represent the district on a contingent fee 1-14 basis; or 1-15 (4) to represent the district in specific litigation. 1-16 SECTION 2. Section 44.042, Education Code, as added by this 1-17 Act, does not apply to a contract for legal services entered into 1-18 by the board of trustees of a school district before the effective 1-19 date of this Act. 1-20 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-21 SECTION 4. 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 2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.