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�	S.B.�No.�2279

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�	AN ACT
�	relating to the dedication of certain civil penalties for
�	violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection
�	Act to provide civil legal services to the indigent.
�	�������BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
�	�������SECTION�1.��Section 402.007, Government Code, is amended to
�	read as follows:
�	�������Sec.�402.007.��PAYMENT TO TREASURY; ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN
�	PENALTIES. (a)��The attorney general shall immediately pay into
�	the state treasury money received for a debt or penalty.
�	�������(b)��Subject to Subsection (c), the comptroller shall credit
�	to the judicial fund for programs approved by the supreme court that
�	provide basic civil legal services to the indigent the net amount of
�	a civil penalty that is recovered in an action by the attorney
�	general in any matter actionable under Subchapter E, Chapter 17,
�	Business & Commerce Code, after deducting amounts allocated to or
�	retained by the attorney general as authorized by law, unless:
�	�������������(1)��another law requires that the penalty be credited
�	to a different fund or account; or
�	�������������(2)��the judgment awarding the penalty requires that
�	the penalty be paid to another named recipient.
�	�������(c)��The total amount credited to the judicial fund for
�	programs approved by the supreme court that provide basic civil
�	legal services to the indigent under Subsection (b) may not exceed
�	$10 million per state fiscal biennium.
�	�������SECTION�2.��The change in law made by this Act applies to a
�	civil penalty in an action by the attorney general in any matter
�	actionable under Subchapter E, Chapter 17, Business & Commerce
�	Code, that is received on or after the effective date of this Act.
�	�������SECTION�3.��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.
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�	______________________________	______________________________
�	���President of the Senate	Speaker of the House�����
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�	�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�2279 passed the Senate on
�	April�30,�2009, by the following vote: Yeas�31, Nays�0; and that
�	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2009, by the
�	following vote: Yeas�31, Nays�0.
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�	______________________________
�	Secretary of the Senate����
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�	�������I hereby certify that S.B.�No.�2279 passed the House, with
�	amendment, on May�27,�2009, by the following vote: Yeas�148,
�	Nays�0, one present not voting.
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�	______________________________
�	Chief Clerk of the House���
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�	Approved:
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�	______________________________�
�	������������Date
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�	______________________________�
�	����������Governor