78R7067 AKH-F

By:  Lewis                                                        H.B. No. 1716



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to conflicts of interest of certain local public officials 
engaged in the practice of law.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 171, Local Government Code, is amended 
by adding Section 171.010 to read as follows:
	Sec. 171.010.  PRACTICE OF LAW.  (a)  For purposes of this 
chapter, a local public official engaged in the private practice of 
law has a substantial interest in a business entity if the official 
has entered a court appearance or signed court pleadings in a matter 
relating to that business entity.
	(b)  A local public official that has a substantial interest 
in a business entity as described by Subsection (a) must comply with 
this chapter.
	(c)  A judge of a statutory county court may not enter a court 
appearance or sign court pleadings as an attorney in any matter 
before:
		(1)  the court over which the judge presides; or                       
		(2)  any court in this state over which the judge's 
court exercises appellate jurisdiction.
	SECTION 2.  Section 171.010(c), Local Government Code, as 
added by this Act, applies only to the entrance of an appearance or 
pleading signed on or after September 1, 2003.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.