BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 168

                                                                                                                                      By: Ellis et al.

Jurisprudence

6/1/2007

Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law requires members of the State Bar of Texas to pay a $65 fee annually to help cover the cost of providing legal services to indigent citizens who are otherwise unable to afford representation. Implementation of this fee has not led to a reduction in the number of attorneys doing pro bono legal work, as some had feared.

S.B. 168 deletes the expiration date contained in the section requiring the implementation of a $65 fee for legal services on non-exempt attorneys.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.054(j), Government Code, to delete existing text providing that this subsection (regarding a fee paid by each active state bar member) will expire on September 1, 2007.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or the 91st day after adjournment.