84R15417 EES-D
 
  By: Geren H.B. No. 1531
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1531:
 
  By:  Larson C.S.H.B. No. 1531
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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.