(a) Except under a written contract approved by the corporation's board of directors, a corporation may not pay compensation, including a commission or fee, or another thing of value to a broker, agent, or other third party who:
(1) is involved in business recruitment or development; and
(2) is not an employee of the corporation.
(b) A corporation that violates Subsection (a) is liable to this state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000.
(c) The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty in a district court in Travis County or the county in which the violation occurred.