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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal |
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services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a |
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criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 572.063 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 572.063. CERTAIN REFERRALS FOR LEGAL SERVICES |
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PROHIBITED. (a) A member of the legislature or an executive |
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officer elected in a statewide election who is a member of the State |
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Bar of Texas or who is licensed to practice law in another state, a |
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federal court, or a United States territory may make or receive a |
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referral for legal services for monetary compensation or any other |
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benefit only if the referral: |
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(1) complies with the rules of the State Bar of Texas; |
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and |
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(2) is evidenced by a written contract between the |
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parties who are subject to the referral. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this |
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section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to conduct that occurred on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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Conduct that occurred before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, conduct occurred before the effective |
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date of this Act if any part of the conduct occurred before that |
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date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |