By Van de Putte                                       S.B. No. 1369
         77R695 AEI-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to pro bono community service programs to provide legal
 1-3     services to the public 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 the
1-11     public.  A program developed under this section shall be
1-12     administered by the attorney general.
1-13           (b)  The attorney general may adopt rules governing a program
1-14     under this section.
1-15           (c)  An attorney who in good faith participates as a
1-16     volunteer in a program under this section is not liable for damages
1-17     in a civil action for an act performed during that participation
1-18     unless the act is wilfully or wantonly negligent.
1-19           SECTION 2.  Section 81.113, Government Code, is amended by
1-20     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-21     follows:
1-22           (b)  An attorney credited for continuing legal education
1-23     under Subsection (a) or (c) must meet the continuing legal
1-24     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.
 2-9           (b)  Section 81.113(c), Government Code, as added by Section
2-10     2 of this Act, applies to reporting years that end on or after the
2-11     effective date of this Act. The requirements for continuing legal
2-12     education for reporting years that end before the effective date of
2-13     this Act are covered by the law in effect when the reporting years
2-14     ended, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.