HUMAN RESOURCES CODE

CHAPTER 12. PENAL PROVISIONS


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1979. 


	§ 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 state penitentiary for a term of not less than 
two or more than seven years.

Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2336, ch. 842, art. 1, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1979. 


	§ 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, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1979.