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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to complaints filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 571.1223, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 571.1223. DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT FOLLOWING CORRECTED |
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OR AMENDED STATEMENT, REGISTRATION, OR REPORT. At any stage of a |
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proceeding under this subchapter, the commission shall dismiss a |
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complaint to the extent the complaint alleges a statement, |
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registration, or report violates a law or rule if: |
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(1) the respondent has filed a corrected or amended |
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statement, registration, or report before the commission issues a |
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final decision on [accepts jurisdiction over] the complaint; and |
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(2) the corrected or amended statement, registration, |
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or report remedies the alleged violation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 571.1241, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) If it is determined that the commission has jurisdiction |
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over the violation alleged in a complaint, the respondent may bring |
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an action in a district court in the county in which the respondent |
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resides to review that determination. The respondent must bring |
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the action not later than the 90th day after the date the respondent |
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receives notice of the determination. |
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SECTION 3. Section 571.1242(g), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(g) Not later than the 30th [120th] day after the [later of |
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the] date the commission receives a respondent's response to notice |
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as required by Subsection (a) or (b) [or the respondent's response |
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to written questions as required by Subsection (f)], the commission |
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shall: |
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(1) propose an agreement to the respondent to settle |
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the complaint without holding a preliminary hearing; or |
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(2) dismiss the complaint. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter |
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571, Government Code, apply only to a complaint filed under that |
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chapter on or after the effective date of this Act. A complaint |
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filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect on the date the complaint was filed, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. 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. |