84R1386 SCL-F
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 2524
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to legal services provided by a district or county
  attorney to county and precinct officials.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 41.007, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 41.007.  OPINIONS TO COUNTY AND PRECINCT OFFICIALS.
  (a)  A [district or county attorney, on request, shall give to a]
  county or precinct official may request in writing [of his district
  or county] a written opinion or written advice relating to the
  official duties of that official, including the interpretation of a
  statute relating to the official duties of the official, from the
  district or county attorney.
         (b)  Not later than the 30th day after the date a written
  request is submitted under Subsection (a), the district or county
  attorney shall:
               (1)  grant the request and provide the written opinion
  or written advice; or
               (2)  deny the request in writing.
         (c)  If a county or precinct official is sued for an action
  arising from the performance of a public duty as a result of
  following an opinion or the advice provided under Subsection (a),
  the county or precinct official is entitled to representation as
  provided by Section 157.901, Local Government Code.
         (d)  In this section, "county official" includes a county
  auditor.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by Section 41.007,
  Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a request
  submitted for a written opinion or written advice on or after the
  effective date of this Act.  A request submitted before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the
  request was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for
  that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.