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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to invoices and payments under certain state contracts for |
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outside legal services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 402.0212, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) An invoice submitted to a state agency under a contract |
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for legal services as described by Subsection (a) must be: |
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(1) submitted to the attorney general by the agency's |
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office of general counsel not later than the 25th day after the date |
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the agency receives the invoice; and |
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(2) reviewed by the attorney general to determine |
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whether the legal services for which the agency is billed are within |
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the terms and scope of the legal services authorized by the contract |
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and therefore [the invoice is] eligible for payment. |
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(b-1) A state agency's office of general counsel shall |
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include with an invoice submitted under Subsection (b)(1) a written |
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certification that the legal services for which the agency is |
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billed are within the terms and scope of the legal services |
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authorized by the contract and reasonably necessary to fulfill the |
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contract. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2251.021, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section |
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[Subsection (b)], a payment by a governmental entity under a |
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contract executed on or after September 1, 1987, is overdue on the |
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31st day after the later of: |
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(1) the date the governmental entity receives the |
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goods under the contract; |
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(2) the date the performance of the service under the |
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contract is completed; or |
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(3) the date the governmental entity receives an |
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invoice for the goods or service. |
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(b-1) A payment under a contract for legal services |
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described by Section 402.0212 owed by a state agency is overdue on |
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the 46th day after the date the agency receives an invoice for the |
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legal services. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |