78R7557 RCJ-D

By:  Turner                                                       H.B. No. 1737



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting credit card solicitations on certain school 
campuses; providing a civil penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Business & Commerce 
Code, is amended by adding Section 35.58 to read as follows:
	Sec. 35.58.  CREDIT CARD SOLICITATION.  (a)  In this section, 
"institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by 
Section 61.003, Education Code.
	(b)  A person may not solicit on a campus of an institution of 
higher education or a public high school an individual to open a 
credit card account.
	(c)  A person who violates this section is liable to the 
state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000.  The 
attorney general or the prosecuting attorney in the county in which 
the violation occurs may bring suit to recover the civil penalty 
imposed under this subsection and to seek an injunction to prevent 
or restrain a violation of this chapter.
	(d)  The attorney general or the prosecuting attorney may 
recover reasonable expenses incurred in obtaining a civil penalty 
or an injunction under Subsection (c), including court costs, 
reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness fees, and 
deposition expenses.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.