84R1066 EES-D
 
  By: Geren H.B. No. 1531
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal
  services by certain legislators and executive officers; providing a
  criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 572.063 to read as follows:
         Sec. 572.063.  CERTAIN REFERRALS FOR LEGAL SERVICES
  PROHIBITED. (a) A member of the legislature or an executive
  officer elected in a statewide election who is a member of the State
  Bar of Texas or who is licensed to practice law in another state or a
  United States territory may not make or receive any referral for
  legal services for monetary compensation or any other benefit.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to conduct that occurred on or after the effective date of this Act.
  Conduct that occurred before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, conduct occurred before the effective
  date of this Act if any part of the conduct occurred before that
  date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.