Image of Logo for Legislative Intent Research

Professional Legislative Histories

for the

State of Texas

"In interpreting a statute, a court shall diligently attempt to ascertain legislative intent and shall consider at all times the old law, the evil and the remedy."

The Construction of Laws Act, Texas Government Code, Sec. 312.005

Legislative Intent Research

Our office has prepared legislative histories for over seventeen years on more than 3,000 issues.
Our professional researchers are former Capitol staff with extensive experience writing bills and getting legislation passed. We know the ins and outs of the legislative process.

We are the only firm that exclusively researches Texas legislative histories and we are located near the Texas Capitol where the legislative work is accomplished and records are archived.

Our legislative research is ...

Timely

You need your answer yesterday. The court won't wait. So while others are trying to figure out the legislative process, our experience allows us to focus on:

assembling relevant materials;
answering your specific questions; and
delivering the answer back to you quickly.

Complete

You don't want to go to court with only "half a history". We are experts at tracking the evidence, finding answers in obscure place, i.e.: companion bills, "single shot" bills added on to other bills, interim reports, subcommittee hearings, archival records, and newspaper clips. Places no one teaches you to look.

Accurate

You and the court demand accuracy, and we deliver it. Our summaries give you specific answers with chronological evidence of how language changed and what was said during hearings and debate.

Cost effective

We can research an average-length legislative history for less than what it costs you to fly a law clerk round trip from Dallas to Austin (not to mention the clerk's hotel and meal expenses if they don't complete the work in one day). An average history with Legislative Intent Research takes 4 to 6 hours. Ask for an estimate.

Serving our clients since 1984

"Thanks so much for your good work...[My client's] conviction was reversed and the Court of Criminal Appeals ordered an acquittal entered."

Phil Robertson, Robertson & Robertson

"Armed with the legislative history you sent we knew just how to rebut their argument."

Broadus Spivey, Austin Attorney

"For those attorneys...unfamiliar with the wide variety of repositories for such materials, [L.I.R.] provides a quick and cost-effective way to locate valuable research..."

Mark D. Taylor, Baker & McKenzie

Rates

Regular rate:
2 week average turn-around
$300 retainer, $100/hour after the first 3 hours

Rush rate:
1 week average turn-around
$450 retainer, $150/hour after the first 3 hours

Super Rush rate:
negotiable deadline
$600 retainer, $200/hour after the first 3 hours

About Legislative Intent Research

L.I.R. is a sole proprietorship. Colette R. Knisely, its owner, has a Masters of Public Affairs from the L.B.J. School at the University of Texas at Austin. She served as an administrative assistant writing legislation and amendments, and researching statutes for Texas legislators in both the House and the Senate before starting Legislative Intent Research in1984.

Training

Upon request, Colette R. Knisely provides training in legislative history research for associations, groups or law firms. She has provided training for numerous agencies and organizations, including the Texas Attorney General's Office, the Texas Supreme Court's CLE Committee, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Dallas County Law Librarians Association, and the Permian Basin Legal Assistants Association. Seminars include copies of our publication "Effective use of Legislative Histories in Texas Courts." CLE credit can be given for the session. For more information, please call our office or e-mail us.

Contact us at:

Legislative Intent Research

3308 Harris Park Ave.
Austin, Texas 78705-2534

888.474.0813- toll free
512.474.0813 - voice
512.477.9144 - fax

E-mail us at: lir@io.com

Last updated: December 6, 2001