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AN ACT
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relating to the duty of an attorney ad litem to locate and represent |
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a defendant in a suit to collect a delinquent ad valorem tax. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 33, Tax Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 33.475 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.475. ATTORNEY AD LITEM REPORT; APPROVAL OF FEES. |
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(a) In a suit to collect a delinquent tax, an attorney ad litem |
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appointed by a court to represent the interests of a defendant |
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served with process by means of citation by publication or posting |
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shall submit to the court a report describing the actions taken by |
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the attorney ad litem to locate and represent the interests of the |
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defendant. |
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(b) The court may not approve the fees of the attorney ad |
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litem until the attorney ad litem submits the report required by |
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this section and the court determines that the actions taken by the |
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attorney ad litem as described in the report were sufficient to |
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discharge the attorney's duties to the defendant. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an attorney ad litem appointed to represent the interests of a |
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defendant in a delinquent tax suit on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. An attorney ad litem appointed to represent the interests |
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of a defendant in a delinquent tax suit before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the attorney |
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was appointed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2710 was passed by the House on May |
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12, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2710 was passed by the Senate on May |
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27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |