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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to State Bar of Texas elections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 81.019, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read |
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as follows: |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and |
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(d), the officers shall be elected in accordance with rules for the |
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election of officers and directors prepared and proposed by the |
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supreme court as provided by Section 81.024. |
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(c) The election rules must permit any member's name to be |
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printed on the ballot as a candidate for president-elect if a |
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written petition requesting that action and signed by at least 500 |
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active members [five percent of the membership] of the state bar is |
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filed with the executive director at least 30 days before the |
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election ballots are to be distributed to the membership. |
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(d) The election rules must permit electronic signatures on |
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a written petition submitted as provided by Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 81.0243 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0243. VOTING DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED; INJUNCTIVE |
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RELIEF. (a) Voting discrimination based on religion, age, sex, |
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race, color, creed, or national origin is prohibited in any form by |
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members of the state bar in elections under this chapter. |
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(b) A person may bring an action for injunctive relief |
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against a member of the state bar who appears to be violating or is |
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threatening to violate Subsection (a). Venue for the action is a |
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district court in Travis County. The person may recover reasonable |
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expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief, including court |
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costs and attorney's fees. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary |
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to implement the changes in law made by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |