TO: | Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | HB3515 by Dunnam (Relating to the creation of the offense of failure to report barratry and solicitation of employment.), As Passed 2nd House |
The bill would amend the Penal Code to create as a Class C misdemeanor offense the act by a lawyer, during the course of representing a client, of failing to report a person, other than a lawyer subject to the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct while acting on behalf of a lawyer, when there is knowledge that would reasonably cause one to believe a lawyer has engaged in barratry and solicitation of professional employment. The bill would take effect immediately if it were to receive the required two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, it would take effect September 1, 2009.
The punishment for a Class C misdemeanor is a fine not to exceed $500. It is anticipated that costs associated with enforcement would be insignificant, as would revenue collected from fines and court costs.
Source Agencies: |
LBB Staff: | JOB, SD, DB, MN, ESi
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