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2000 SESSION

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000416608
HOUSE BILL NO. 359 Offered January 12, 2000 A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3904 of the Code of Virginia, relating to penalty for practicing law without authority. ---------- Patron-- Almand ---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 54.1-3904 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 54.1-3904. Penalty for practicing law without authority.

A. Any person who practices law without being authorized or licensed shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. When it is alleged and proven that the person convicted has been previously convicted of a violation of this section or a substantially similar law of another jurisdiction, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

B. A collection agency may refer debts to an attorney for collection with the creditor's approval of the referral and the fee arrangement and shall not be deemed to be engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. An attorney is permitted by the creditor's authorization to enter into such representation agreements.

2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment in state correctional facilities. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation is $0 in FY 2010.