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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reimbursement to counties for attorney ad litem fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 107.015, Family Code, is amended by |
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amending subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) If indigency of the parents is shown, an attorney ad |
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litem appointed to represent a child or parent in a suit filed by a |
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governmental entity shall be paid from the general funds of the |
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county according to the fee schedule that applies to an attorney |
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appointed to represent a child in a suit under Title 3 as provided |
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by Chapter 51. The court may not award attorney ad litem fees under |
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this chapter against the state, a state agency, or a political |
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subdivision of the state except as provided by this subsection. |
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Upon request by a county, the comptroller shall reimburse a county |
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for fees paid under this section from funds appropriated for that |
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purpose. Upon failure of the comptroller to make such payment |
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within 60 days, a county may suspend any further payments under this |
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section. |
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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. |