HBA-ALS H.B. 1507 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1507 By: Wolens Licensing & Administrative Procedures 3/15/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas law prohibits the unauthorized practice of law. A federal court in Dallas has held that the sale of a software product constituted the unauthorized practice of law, as defined in the Government Code. H.B.1507 exempts from the definition of practicing law, the creation, publication, sale, or distribution of books, Internet sites, computer software, or other certain media, if the item clearly indicates that it was not prepared by a person licensed to practice law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.101, Government Code, by adding Subsection 81.101(c), to provide that in this chapter (State Bar), and Chapter 83 (Certain Unauthorized Practice of Law), Government Code, the practice of law does not include the design, creation, publication, distribution or sale of written materials, books, printed forms, Internet sites, computer software or similar media, if the items clearly indicate that they were not prepared by a person licensed to practice law in this state. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.