TITLE: Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.

SUMMARY: Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 572, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 572.063 to read as follows: Sec. 572.063. CERTAIN REFERRALS FOR LEGAL SERVICES PROHIBITED. (a) A member of the legislature or an executive officer elected in a statewide election who is a member of the State Bar of Texas or who is licensed to practice law in another state, a federal court, or a United States territory may make or receive a referral for legal services for monetary compensation or any other benefit only if the referral: (1) complies with the rules of the State Bar of Texas; and (2) is evidenced by a written contract between the parties who are subject to the referral. (b) A person commits an offense if the person violates this section. An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to conduct that occurred on or after the effective date of this Act. Conduct that occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, conduct occurred before the effective date of this Act if any part of the conduct occurred before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.