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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the employment of a special counsel by a county. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 89, Local Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 89.0011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 89.0011. SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR COUNTY. (a) The |
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commissioners court of a county may employ an attorney to: |
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(1) advise county officers on contracts or on open |
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meetings and records issues; |
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(2) provide counsel to the elected officers of the |
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county on matters regarding the officers' official duties; or |
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(3) provide other legal representation and counsel as |
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the county may require. |
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(b) A special counsel employed under this section shall |
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provide legal representation and advice in a timely manner, without |
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political, professional, or personal bias. The special counsel may |
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not perform any function expressly granted by law to another |
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person. |
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(c) The commissioners court shall select the special |
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counsel employed under this section and shall determine the terms |
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and duration of employment of the special counsel. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |