1-1     By:  Van de Putte                                     S.B. No. 1369
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2001; March 13, 2001, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Jurisprudence;
 1-4     April 25, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
 1-5     Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 25, 2001,
 1-6     sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1369               By:  Wentworth
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to pro bono community service programs to provide certain
1-11     legal services and to participation in those programs for
1-12     continuing legal education credit.
1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-14           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 402, Government Code, is
1-15     amended by adding Section 402.010 to read as follows:
1-16           Sec. 402.010.  PRO BONO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS;
1-17     LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.  (a)  The attorney general may develop pro
1-18     bono community service programs to provide legal services to
1-19     facilitate proceedings involving child support.  A program
1-20     developed under this section shall be administered by the attorney
1-21     general.
1-22           (b)  The attorney general may adopt rules governing a program
1-23     under this section.
1-24           (c)  Using funds other than state-appropriated funds, the
1-25     State Bar of Texas shall provide legal malpractice insurance
1-26     coverage for attorneys who participate as volunteers in a program
1-27     under this section for acts performed during that participation.
1-28           SECTION 2.  Section 81.113, Government Code, is amended by
1-29     amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
1-30     follows:
1-31           (b)  An attorney credited for continuing legal education
1-32     under Subsection (a) or (c) must meet the continuing legal
1-33     education requirements of the state bar in legal ethics or
1-34     professional responsibility.
1-35           (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the state bar
1-36     shall credit an attorney licensed in this state with meeting the
1-37     minimum continuing legal education requirements of the state bar
1-38     for a reporting year if, for the entire reporting year, the
1-39     attorney participates in a pro bono community service program
1-40     developed by the attorney general under Section 402.010.
1-41           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
1-42     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
1-43     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
1-44     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
1-45     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-46           (b)  Subsection (c), Section 81.113, Government Code, as
1-47     added by this Act, applies to reporting years that end on or after
1-48     the effective date of this Act.  The requirements for continuing
1-49     legal education for reporting years that end before the effective
1-50     date of this Act are covered by the law in effect when the
1-51     reporting years ended, and the former law is continued in effect
1-52     for that purpose.
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