H.B. No. 2826
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to procurement of a contingent fee contract for legal
  services by certain governmental entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2254.101, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (2-a) to read as follows:
               (2-a)  "Political subdivision" means an entity
  described by Section 2254.002(1)(B), (C), or (D).
         SECTION 2.  Section 2254.102, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and adding Subsection (e) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  This subchapter applies only to a contingent fee
  contract for legal services entered into by a state governmental
  entity or political subdivision.
         (b)  The legislature by this subchapter is providing, in
  accordance with Sections [Section] 44 and 53, Article III, Texas
  Constitution, for the manner in which and the situations under
  which a state governmental entity or political subdivision may
  compensate a public contractor under a contingent fee contract for
  legal services.
         (c)  This subchapter does not apply to a contract:
               (1)  with a state agency to collect an obligation under
  Section 2107.003(b), (c), or (c-1); [or]
               (2)  for legal services entered into by an institution
  of higher education under Section 153.006, Education Code; or
               (3)  for legal services provided to a school district
  under Subchapter M, Chapter 403.
         (e)  This subchapter does not apply to a contract for legal
  services entered into under Section 6.30, Tax Code, Article
  103.0031, Code of Criminal Procedure, or Section 1201.027 of this
  code except that Sections 2254.1032, 2254.1034, 2254.1036, and
  2254.1037 do apply to the contract.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 2254.103, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 2254.103.  STATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY: CONTRACT
  APPROVAL; SIGNATURE.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2254, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 2254.1032, 2254.1034, 2254.1036,
  2254.1037, and 2254.1038 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2254.1032.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: SELECTION OF
  PROVIDER. (a) A political subdivision may select an attorney or
  law firm to award a contingent fee contract only in accordance with
  Section 2254.003(a) and this section.
         (b)  In procuring legal services under a contingent fee
  contract, a political subdivision shall:
               (1)  select a well-qualified attorney or law firm on
  the basis of demonstrated competence, qualifications, and
  experience in the requested services; and
               (2)  attempt to negotiate a contract with that attorney
  or law firm for a fair and reasonable price.
         Sec. 2254.1034.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: INDEMNIFICATION.
  (a) A political subdivision may require an attorney or law firm
  selected under Section 2254.1032 to indemnify or hold harmless the
  political subdivision from claims and liabilities resulting from
  negligent acts or omissions of the attorney or law firm or persons
  employed by the attorney or law firm.
         (b)  A political subdivision may not require an attorney or
  law firm selected under Section 2254.1032 to indemnify, hold
  harmless, or, subject to Subsection (c), defend the political
  subdivision for claims or liabilities resulting from negligent acts
  or omissions of the political subdivision or its employees.
         (c)  Subsection (b) does not prevent an attorney or law firm
  selected under Section 2254.1032 from defending the political
  subdivision or its employees in accordance with a contract for the
  defense of negligent acts or omissions of the political subdivision
  or its employees.
         Sec. 2254.1036.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: CONTRACT NOTICE;
  APPROVAL BY GOVERNING BODY. (a) A political subdivision may enter
  into a contingent fee contract for legal services only if the
  political subdivision:
               (1)  before or at the time of giving the written notice
  required by Section 551.041 for a meeting described by Subdivision
  (2), also provides written notice to the public stating:
                     (A)  the reasons for pursuing the matter that is
  the subject of the legal services for which the attorney or law firm
  would be retained and the desired outcome of pursuing the matter;
                     (B)  the competence, qualifications, and
  experience demonstrated by the attorney or law firm selected under
  Section 2254.1032;
                     (C)  the nature of any relationship, including the
  beginning of the relationship, between the political subdivision or
  governing body and the attorney or law firm selected under Section
  2254.1032;
                     (D)  the reasons the legal services cannot be
  adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of
  the political subdivision;
                     (E)  the reasons the legal services cannot be
  reasonably obtained from attorneys in private practice under a
  contract providing for the payment of hourly fees without
  contingency; and
                     (F)  the reasons entering into a contingent fee
  contract for legal services is in the best interest of the residents
  of the political subdivision; and
               (2)  approves the contract in an open meeting called
  for the purpose of considering the matters listed in Subsection
  (a)(1).
         (b)  On approval of a contingent fee contract, the governing
  body of a political subdivision shall state in writing that the
  political subdivision finds that:
               (1)  there is a substantial need for the legal
  services;
               (2)  the legal services cannot be adequately performed
  by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the political
  subdivision; and
               (3)  the legal services cannot reasonably be obtained
  from attorneys in private practice under a contract providing only
  for the payment of hourly fees, without regard to the outcome of the
  matter, because of the nature of the matter for which the services
  will be obtained or because the political subdivision does not have
  funds to pay the estimated amounts required under a contract
  providing only for the payment of hourly fees.
         Sec. 2254.1037.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: CONTRACT AS PUBLIC
  INFORMATION. A contingent fee contract approved under Section
  2254.1036 is public information under Chapter 552 and may not be
  withheld from a requestor under Section 552.103 or any other
  exception from required disclosure.
         Sec. 2254.1038.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION: ATTORNEY GENERAL
  REVIEW OF CONTRACT. (a) Before a contingent fee contract for legal
  services approved under Section 2254.1036 is effective and
  enforceable, the political subdivision must receive attorney
  general approval of the contract.  The political subdivision shall
  file the contract with the attorney general along with:
               (1)  a description of the matter to be pursued by the
  political subdivision;
               (2)  a copy of the notice required by Section
  2254.1036(a) and a statement of the method and date of the provision
  of the notice; and
               (3)  a copy of the statement required by Section
  2254.1036(b).
         (b)  Within 90 days after receiving a contract from a
  political subdivision, the attorney general may:
               (1)  approve the contract;
               (2)  refuse to approve the contract because the
  requirements of this subchapter were not fulfilled; or
               (3)  refuse to approve the contract because:
                     (A)  the legal matter that is the subject of the
  contract presents one or more questions of law or fact that are in
  common with a matter the state has already addressed or is pursuing;
  and
                     (B)  pursuit of the matter by the political
  subdivision will not promote the just and efficient resolution of
  the matter.
         (c)  A contract submitted to the attorney general by a
  political subdivision under Subsection (a) is considered approved
  by the attorney general unless, not later than the 90th day after
  the date the attorney general receives the request to approve the
  contract, the attorney general notifies the political subdivision
  that the attorney general is refusing to approve the contract.
         (d)  If the attorney general refuses to approve a contract
  under Subsection (b)(2), the attorney general shall specifically
  identify the provisions of this subchapter with which the contract
  fails to comply or the political subdivision failed to comply.  
  Nothing in this section prohibits a political subdivision from
  correcting a failure to comply with this subchapter.
         (e)  If the attorney general refuses to approve a contract
  under Subsection (b)(3), the attorney general shall inform the
  political subdivision of the factual and legal basis for the
  decision.
         (f)  A political subdivision may contest the attorney
  general's refusal to approve the contract under Subsection (b)(3)
  in the manner provided for contested cases under Chapter 2001.
         (g)  The State Office of Administrative Hearings shall
  establish procedures to govern a contest to the attorney general's
  refusal to approve a contract under Subsection (b)(3) and for in
  camera review and protection from disclosure of information
  excepted from disclosure under Chapter 552 in a contested case
  under this subsection.
         (h)  The refusal to approve a contract under Subsection
  (b)(3) is subject to substantial evidence judicial review as
  provided in Subchapter G, Chapter 2001.
         (i)  A political subdivision may request expedited review of
  a contract under Subsection (a).
         SECTION 5.  Sections 2254.104(b), (c), and (d), Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The contracting attorney or law firm shall permit the
  governing body or governing officer of the state governmental
  entity or political subdivision, the attorney general, and the
  state auditor or the political subdivision's auditor, as
  applicable, each to inspect or obtain copies of the time and expense
  records at any time on request.
         (c)  On conclusion of the matter for which legal services
  were obtained, the contracting attorney or law firm shall provide
  the contracting state governmental entity or political subdivision 
  with a complete written statement that describes the outcome of the
  matter, states the amount of any recovery, shows the contracting
  attorney's or law firm's computation of the amount of the contingent
  fee, and contains the final complete time and expense records
  required by Subsection (a).  The complete written statement
  required by this subsection is public information under Chapter 552
  and may not be withheld from a requestor under that chapter under
  Section 552.103 or any other exception from required disclosure.
         (d)  This subsection does not apply to the complete written
  statement required by Subsection (c).  All time and expense records
  required under this section are public information subject to
  required public disclosure under Chapter 552.  Information in the
  records may be withheld from a member of the public under Section
  552.103 only if, in addition to meeting the requirements of Section
  552.103, the chief legal officer or employee of the state
  governmental entity or political subdivision determines that
  withholding the information is necessary to protect the entity's
  strategy or position in pending or reasonably anticipated
  litigation. Information withheld from public disclosure under this
  subsection shall be segregated from information that is subject to
  required public disclosure.
         SECTION 6.  Section 2254.108(d), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (d)  Litigation and other expenses payable under the
  contract, including expenses attributable to attorney, paralegal,
  accountant, expert, or other professional work performed by a
  person who is not a contracting attorney or a partner, shareholder,
  or employee of a contracting attorney or law firm, may be reimbursed
  only if the state governmental entity or political subdivision and,
  if applicable, the entity's or subdivision's [state] auditor
  determine that the expenses were reasonable, proper, necessary,
  actually incurred on behalf of the state governmental entity or
  political subdivision, and paid for by the contracting attorney or
  law firm. The contingent fee may not be paid until the entity's or
  subdivision's [state] auditor or the governing body of a political
  subdivision without an auditor, as applicable, has reviewed the
  relevant time and expense records and verified that the hours of
  work on which the fee computation is based were actually worked in
  performing reasonable and necessary services for the state
  governmental entity or political subdivision under the contract.
         SECTION 7.  Sections 2254.109(a) and (c), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  This subchapter does not limit the right of a state
  governmental entity or political subdivision to recover fees and
  expenses from opposing parties under other law.
         (c)  An [A state] officer, employee, or governing body of a
  state governmental entity or political subdivision, including the
  attorney general, may not waive the requirements of this subchapter
  or prejudice the interests of the state governmental entity or
  political subdivision [state] under this subchapter. This
  subchapter does not waive the state's sovereign immunity or a
  political subdivision's governmental immunity from suit or the
  state's [its] immunity from suit in federal court under the
  Eleventh Amendment to the federal constitution.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2254, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 2254.110 to read as follows:
         Sec. 2254.110.  VOID CONTRACT. A contract entered into or an
  arrangement made in violation of this subchapter is void as against
  public policy, and no fees may be paid to any person under the
  contract or under any theory of recovery for work performed in
  connection with a void contract.  A contract that is submitted to
  and approved by the attorney general under Section 2254.1038 cannot
  later be declared void under this section.
         SECTION 9.  Section 403.0305, Government Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 10.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2254, Government Code, as
  amended by this Act, applies only to a contract entered into on or
  after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2826 was passed by the House on May 2,
  2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 103, Nays 39, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2826 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 27, Nays 4.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor