AI-assisted research summary: Contracts for legal services must require recordkeeping, inspection on request, and a final written statement when the matter ends.
Sec. 2254.104. TIME AND EXPENSE RECORDS REQUIRED; FINAL STATEMENT. (a) The contract must require that the contracting attorney or law firm keep current and complete written time and expense records that describe in detail the time and money spent each day in performing the contract. (b) The contracting attorney or law firm shall permit the governing body or governing officer of the state governmental entity or political subdivision, the attorney general, and the state auditor or the political subdivision's auditor, as applicable, each to inspect or obtain copies of the time and expense records at any time on request. (c) On conclusion of the matter for which legal services were obtained, the contracting attorney or law firm shall provide the contracting state governmental entity or political subdivision with a complete written statement that describes the outcome of the matter, states the amount of any recovery, shows the contracting attorney's or law firm's computation of the amount of the contingent fee, and contains the final complete time and expense records required by Subsection (a). The complete written statement required by this subsection is public information under Chapter 552 and may not be withheld from a requestor under that chapter under Section 552.103 or any other exception from required disclosure. (d) This subsection does not apply to the complete written statement required by Subsection (c). All time and expense records required under this section are public information subject to required public disclosure under Chapter 552. Information in the records may be withheld from a member of the public under Section 552.103 only if, in addition to meeting the requirements of Section 552.103, the chief legal officer or employee of the state governmental entity or political subdivision determines that withholding the information is necessary to protect the entity's strategy or position in pending or reasonably anticipated litigation. Information withheld from public disclosure under this subsection shall be segregated from information that is subject to required public disclosure. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1499, Sec. 3.03, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 857 (H.B. 2826), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2019.