CHAPTER 12. PENAL PROVISIONS
HUMAN RESOURCES CODE
TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF
PROTECTIVE AND REGULATORY SERVICES
SUBTITLE A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 12. PENAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 12.001. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES. (a) A person who is not
licensed to practice law in Texas commits an offense if the
person charges a fee for representing or aiding an applicant or
recipient in procuring assistance from the department.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person advertises, holds
himself or herself out for, or solicits the procurement of
assistance from the department.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2336, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff.
Sept. 1, 1979.
Sec. 12.002. UNLAWFUL USE OF FUNDS. (a) A person charged with
the duty or responsibility of administering, disbursing,
auditing, or otherwise handling the grants, funds, or money
provided for in this title commits an offense if the person
misappropriates the grants, funds, or money or by deception or
fraud wrongfully distributes the grants, funds, or money to any
person.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony punishable by
confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a
term of not less than two or more than seven years.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2336, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff.
Sept. 1, 1979.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch.
87, Sec. 25.113, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 12.003. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION PROHIBITED. (a) Except
for purposes directly connected with the administration of the
department's assistance programs, it is an offense for a person
to solicit, disclose, receive, or make use of, or to authorize,
knowingly permit, participate in, or acquiesce in the use of the
names of, or any information concerning, persons applying for or
receiving assistance if the information is directly or indirectly
derived from the records, papers, files, or communications of the
department or acquired by employees of the department in the
performance of their official duties.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2336, ch. 842, art. 1, Sec. 1, eff.
Sept. 1, 1979.