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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district |
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court judges for assignment as a visiting judge. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 74.055, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d), (f-1), and (h) to read as follows: |
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(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(4), a retired or former |
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district court judge is eligible to be named on the list if the |
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retired or former district court judge certifies under oath to the |
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presiding judge, on a form prescribed by the state board of regional |
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judges, that during the 15 years preceding assignment under this |
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section: |
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(1) the judge has not been publicly reprimanded or |
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censured by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct; and |
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(2) the judge: |
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(A) did not resign or retire from office after |
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the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified the judge of the |
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commencement of a full investigation into an allegation or |
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appearance of misconduct or disability of the judge as provided in |
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Section 33.022 and before the final disposition of that |
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investigation; or |
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(B) if the judge resigned from office under |
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circumstances described by Paragraph (A), was not publicly |
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reprimanded or censured as a result of the investigation. |
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(f-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (f), a former or retired |
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district court judge is ineligible to be named on the list only if |
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during the 15 years preceding appointment under this section the |
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former or retired judge is identified in a public statement issued |
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by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct as having resigned or |
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retired from office in lieu of discipline. |
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(h) Subsections (d) and (f-1) and this subsection expire |
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September 1, 2033. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2025. |