By:  Van de Putte                                     S.B. No. 1369
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to pro bono community service programs to provide certain
 1-3     legal services and to participation in those programs for
 1-4     continuing legal education credit.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 402, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 402.010 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 402.010.  PRO BONO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS;
 1-9     LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.  (a)  The attorney general may develop pro
1-10     bono community service programs to provide legal services to
1-11     facilitate proceedings involving child support.  A program
1-12     developed under this section shall be administered by the attorney
1-13     general.
1-14           (b)  The attorney general may adopt rules governing a program
1-15     under this section.
1-16           (c)  Using funds other than state-appropriated funds, the
1-17     State Bar of Texas shall provide legal malpractice insurance
1-18     coverage for attorneys who participate as volunteers in a program
1-19     under this section for acts performed during that participation.
1-20           SECTION 2.  Section 81.113, Government Code, is amended by
1-21     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-22     follows:
1-23           (b)  An attorney credited for continuing legal education
1-24     under Subsection (a) or (c) must meet the continuing legal
1-25     education requirements of the state bar in legal ethics or
 2-1     professional responsibility.
 2-2           (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the state bar
 2-3     shall credit an attorney licensed in this state with meeting the
 2-4     minimum continuing legal education requirements of the state bar
 2-5     for a reporting year if, for the entire reporting year, the
 2-6     attorney participates in a pro bono community service program
 2-7     developed by the attorney general under Section 402.010.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
 2-9     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
2-10     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
2-11     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
2-12     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-13           (b)  Subsection (c), Section 81.113, Government Code, as
2-14     added by this Act, applies to reporting years that end on or after
2-15     the effective date of this Act.  The requirements for continuing
2-16     legal education for reporting years that end before the effective
2-17     date of this Act are covered by the law in effect when the
2-18     reporting years ended, and the former law is continued in effect
2-19     for that purpose.