Amend CSSB 1610 (senate committee report) as follows:
(1) Strike the recital to SECTION 27 of the bill (page 11, lines 63 and 64) and substitute the following:
SECTION 27. Section 2155.144, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-3) to read as follows:
(2) In SECTION 27 of the bill, immediately following amended Section 2155.144(b-1), Government Code (page 12, between lines 10 and 11), insert the following:
(b-3) Notwithstanding any other law, the Texas Civil Commitment Office is delegated the authority to procure common commodities or services described by Subsection (b-1) for office use if the total cost of the purchase is less than the total cost of the purchase under the comptroller's purchasing authority or as offered for sale as provided by Chapter 122, Human Resources Code. The Texas Civil Commitment Office, in collaboration with the comptroller, shall identify best practices for comparing the total costs and documenting cost savings.
(3) In SECTION 35 of the bill, strike added Sections 841.148 and 841.149, Health and Safety Code (page 13, lines 46 through 60), and substitute the following:
Sec. 841.148. ATTORNEY GENERAL REPRESENTATION. (a) The attorney general shall defend any person described by Section 841.147(a)(4) in an action if:
(1) the office requests that the attorney general defend the person; and
(2) the action arises from a service performed under this chapter at the request of the office.
(b) The office or the person is not responsible for and may not pay any costs associated with the assistance.
Sec. 841.149. RECOVERY OF COURT COSTS AND ATTORNEY'S FEES. (a) In an action against a person described by Section 841.147(a)(4), the court shall award to the person court costs and attorney's fees incurred in the action if the person is found immune under that section and the person is not represented by the attorney general.
(b) In an action against a person described by Section 841.147(a)(4) who is represented by the attorney general, the court shall award to the attorney general court costs and attorney's fees incurred in the action if the person is found immune under that section.