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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disciplinary power of the State Commission on |
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Judicial Conduct to issue private reprimands. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 33.001(a)(10), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(10) "Sanction" means an order issued by the |
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commission under Section 1-a(8), Article V, Texas Constitution, |
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providing for a [private or] public admonition, warning, or |
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reprimand or requiring that a person obtain additional training or |
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education. |
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SECTION 2. Section 33.0212(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Not later than the 90th day following the date |
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commission staff files with the commission the report required by |
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Subsection (a), the commission shall determine any action to be |
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taken regarding the complaint, including: |
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(1) a public sanction; |
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(2) [a private sanction; |
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[(3)] a suspension; |
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(3) [(4)] an order of education; |
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(4) [(5)] an acceptance of resignation in lieu of |
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discipline; |
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(5) [(6)] a dismissal; or |
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(6) [(7)] an initiation of formal proceedings. |
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SECTION 3. Section 33.032(d), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The disciplinary record of a judge [, including any |
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private sanctions,] is admissible in a subsequent proceeding before |
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the commission, a special master, a special court of review, or a |
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review tribunal. |
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SECTION 4. Section 33.033(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The communication shall inform the complainant that: |
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(1) the case has been dismissed; |
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(2) an [a private sanction or] order of additional |
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education has been issued by the commission; |
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(3) a public sanction has been issued by the |
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commission; |
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(4) formal proceedings have been instituted; or |
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(5) a judge has resigned from judicial office in lieu |
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of disciplinary action by the commission. |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a sanction issued by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only |
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if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2025, regarding the disciplinary powers of the |
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State Commission on Judicial Conduct is approved by the voters. If |
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that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no |
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effect. |