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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to pro bono legal services for veterans and service |
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members and an exemption from the state bar membership fee for |
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attorneys providing those services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.054, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A member of the state bar who is in good standing is |
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not required to pay an annual membership fee if in the preceding |
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year the member provided the required number of qualifying pro bono |
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legal services to veterans in accordance with rules adopted by the |
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supreme court under this chapter. The rules must include standards |
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governing this membership fee exemption, including: |
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(1) the number of pro bono hours required for the |
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exemption; |
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(2) the types of pro bono legal services that qualify |
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for the exemption; and |
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(3) the pro bono legal services programs through which |
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the hours may qualify for the exemption. |
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SECTION 2. Section 434.017(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) Money in the fund may only be appropriated to the Texas |
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Veterans Commission. Money appropriated under this subsection |
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shall be used to: |
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(1) make grants to address veterans' needs; |
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(2) make grants to provide pro bono legal services to |
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veterans, active duty members of the United States armed forces, |
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and members of the state military forces; |
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(3) administer the fund; and |
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(4) [(3)] analyze and investigate data received from |
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the federal Public Assistance Reporting Information System (PARIS) |
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that is administered by the Administration for Children and |
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Families of the United States Department of Health and Human |
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Services. |
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SECTION 3. Section 434.0171, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 434.0171. STATE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS TO FUND FOR |
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VETERANS' ASSISTANCE. For purposes of Subchapter I, Chapter 659: |
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(1) the Texas Veterans Commission, for the sole |
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purpose of managing the fund for veterans' assistance, is |
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considered an eligible charitable organization entitled to |
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participate in the state employee charitable campaign; and |
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(2) a state employee is entitled to authorize a |
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deduction for contributions to the Texas Veterans Commission for |
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the purposes of managing the fund for veterans' assistance as a |
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charitable contribution under Section 659.132, and the Texas |
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Veterans Commission may use the contributions for the purposes |
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listed in Section 434.017(c)[, as redesignated and amended by
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Chapter 1418 (H.B. 3107), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
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Session, 2007]. |
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SECTION 4. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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date of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules |
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necessary to implement Section 81.054(b-1), Government Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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(b) Section 81.054(b-1), Government Code, as added by this |
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Act, applies to a fee for membership or renewal of membership in the |
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State Bar of Texas that is due on or after January 1, 2020. A fee |
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for membership or renewal of membership that is due before that date |
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is governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |