Honorable Tryon D. Lewis, Chair, House Committee On Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB293 by Rodriguez, Eddie (Relating to the release and use of certain information maintained by the State Bar of Texas on request of certain continuing legal education sponsors regarding attorneys.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require the State Bar of Texas to provide the names, bar card numbers, and e-mail addresses of bar members to certain accredited sponsors of legal education. The State Bar would have authority to charge the accredited sponsor with the actual costs incurred in providing the e-mail addresses by electronic means. The State Bar could realize some additional income through this optional charge, but the amount is expected to be small.
The Office of the Attorney General reports the bill would have no effect on the agency’s workload. Texas Southern University reports that the bill would save the university approximately $89,900 per fiscal year, as the university could email continuing legal education course announcements to more than 89,900 attorneys rather than incur printing and postage costs. Other universities reported no or minimal fiscal implications.
The bill would take effective immediately if it receives the requisite number of votes, otherwise the bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 302 Office of the Attorney General, 717 Texas Southern University, 719 Texas State Technical College System Administration, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 733 Texas Tech University