C.S.H.B. 3520 78 ) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 3520 By: Lewis County Affairs Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, local bail bond boards are allowed to regulate criminal defense attorneys who write bonds. These bail bond boards are composed of 12 members, none of which is a criminal defense attorney. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Section 1 amends Section 1704.053 of the Occupations Code by adding (13) to include in the composition of a county bail bond board, a criminal defense attorney practicing in the county the board has jurisdiction over. The substitute states that the attorney on the board would be elected by other attorneys whose principal place of business is located in the county and are not legally prohibited from representing criminal defendants. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon Passage, of if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The committee substitute includes language stating that a criminal defense attorney is elected by other attorneys whose principal place of business is located in the county and who are not legally prohibited from representing criminal defendants.