Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 599 amends the Government Code to continue the State Bar of Texas until September 1, 2015, and to include and update standard sunset language. The bill requires the state bar to develop a comprehensive, long-range strategic plan that includes measurable goals and a system of performance measures. The bill requires the state bar to report the performance measures included annually to the Texas Supreme Court and the editor of the Texas Bar Journal and to use the elements of the strategic plan in its budgeting process. After implementing its budget, the state bar must report its performance to the court and must revise its goals and performance measures as necessary and report those revisions to the court. The bill eliminates a requirement that at least 51 percent of registered bar members must vote in an election on proposed rule changes or dues increases for the election to be valid; instead, a simple majority of votes cast determines the outcome. The state bar, with the approval of the court, may use electronic methods to distribute ballots and other election materials and to receive completed ballots. The state bar must promote and monitor member participation in its elections and submit statistics relating to such participation to the court and the editor of the Texas Bar Journal.

            The bill adds a new subchapter on the composition and duties of the existing executive committee, which include creating new standing and special committees. The bill revises the procedures of the state bar’s grievance system to require the chief disciplinary counsel's office to classify and refer grievances for disposition and to provide for the public availability of all hearing documentation if any sanction other than a private reprimand is issued. The bill requires the supreme court to impose an additional annual legal services fee of $65 on active members of the state bar, with certain exceptions. The fees may be used only to provide basic civil legal services to the indigent and legal representation and other defense services to indigent defendants in criminal cases.

            Finally, the bill amends the Local Government Code to allow county judges and commissioners to practice law in courts located in the counties in which they serve upon compliance with conflict-of-interest provisions of the code. The bill prohibits a judge of a constitutional county court from entering a court appearance or signing a court pleading as an attorney in a matter that is before the judge’s own court or in any Texas court over which the judge’s court has appellate jurisdiction.