H.B. No. 3515

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation of the offense of failure to report
	barratry and solicitation of employment.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Section 38.121 to read as follows:
	Sec. 38.121.  FAILURE TO REPORT BARRATRY OR SOLICITATION OF
	EMPLOYMENT.  (a)  A lawyer commits an offense if the lawyer, during
	the course of representation of a client:
	(1)  acquires knowledge that would reasonably cause a
	lawyer to believe that a person, other than a lawyer subject to the
	Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, while acting on
	behalf of a lawyer, has engaged in conduct that constitutes an
	offense under Section 38.12; and
	(2)  fails to report the knowledge to the State Bar of
	Texas not later than the 45th business day after the lawyer acquires
	the knowledge.
	(b)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3515 was passed by the House on April
	28, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 6, 3 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 3515 on May 25, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 1,
	1 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3515 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor