Bill: HB 2573, 84(R) - 2015

Committee

House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Neutral Positive Neutral

Author(s)

Eric Johnson

Co-Author(s)

Ana Hernandez

Bill Caption

Relating to a deceptive trade practice related to the use of certain words to imply that a person who is not an attorney is authorized to practice law and the prosecution of a cause of action arising from that practice.

Fiscal Notes

There is no significant fiscal implication to the State.

Local Government

According to the provisions of the bill, a certain portion of the civil penalty recovered would be paid to the county where the court is located. There may be a positive fiscal impact to local governments; however, fiscal impact will vary depending on the number of suits brought and cannot be determined.

Bill Analysis

HB 2573 would amend the Business and Commerce Code to make using the terms 'attorney,' 'lawyer,' 'license,' 'notary,' and 'notary public' in written and electronic material in a way that implies that a person who is not an attorney is authorized to practice law a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. A district or county attorney would be able to prosecute this violation.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This bill affirms the principle of limited government by preventing people who are not lawyers and not licensed to practice law from passing themselves off as lawyers and providing legal counsel to unsuspecting clients. For this reason, we support HB 2573.

The second chamber sponsor is Senator Lucio.


Source URL (retrieved on 03/29/2024 02:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/84r/hb2573?print_view=true