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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the payment and distribution of consumer assistance |
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funds in an action by the attorney general. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 67 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 67. CONSUMER ASSISTANCE FUNDS IN ACTION BY ATTORNEY |
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GENERAL |
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Sec. 67.001. CONSUMER ASSISTANCE FUNDS. In an action |
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brought by the attorney general arising from conduct that violates |
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a consumer protection, public health, or general welfare law, the |
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court may enter a judgment or order for payment of restitution to be |
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distributed by the attorney general as provided by Section 67.003 |
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if the court determines that, based on the facts and circumstances |
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of the case: |
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(1) it is impossible or impracticable to identify |
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injured parties; |
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(2) it is impossible or impracticable to determine the |
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degree to which each claimant was injured and entitled to recover; |
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or |
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(3) the cost of administering a claim procedure is |
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prohibitive due to a low probability of recovery for each claimant. |
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Sec. 67.002. CREATION OF CONSUMER ASSISTANCE ACCOUNT. |
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(a) The consumer assistance account is created as a restitution |
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account in the departmental suspense account in the state treasury. |
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The account consists of consumer assistance funds paid under a |
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court judgment or order as provided by Section 67.001. Civil |
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penalties, costs, or attorney's fees shall not be deposited in this |
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account. Funds in the account are held in trust for the benefit of |
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charitable entities as provided by Section 67.003. The attorney |
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general shall administer the fund. |
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(b) The attorney general shall retain funds that are |
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designated as consumer assistance funds under a court judgment or |
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order and shall deposit the funds in the consumer assistance |
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account. |
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Sec. 67.003. USE OF CONSUMER ASSISTANCE FUNDS. (a) In |
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this section "charitable entity" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 123.001, Property Code. |
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(b) The attorney general shall distribute restitution paid |
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under a court judgment or order as provided by this chapter to one |
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or more charitable entities to fund programs that provide |
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assistance to consumers. The distribution must be in accordance |
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with the court judgment or order. The attorney general shall |
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notify: |
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(1) the Legislative Budget Board before the |
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distribution; and |
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(2) the court when the distribution is complete. |
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Sec. 67.004. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The attorney general |
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may adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter. |
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Sec. 67.005. COMMON LAW CY PRES. The provisions of this |
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chapter do not diminish the common law authority or other statutory |
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authority of the attorney general to seek and obtain cy pres |
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distribution from a court. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies to funds paid under a court |
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judgment as provided by Section 67.001, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, as added by this Act, that are held in the attorney general's |
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departmental suspense account on or after the effective date of |
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this Act, notwithstanding the fact that the funds were paid into |
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that account before the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |