By:  Carona                                            H.B. No. 587
       73R3168 RJA-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to legislative service as a substitute for certain study
    1-3  and training requirements for candidates for the examination for a
    1-4  license to practice law.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Section 82.025, Government Code, is amended to
    1-7  read as follows:
    1-8        Sec. 82.025.  Exemption for Legislative Service.  (a)  The
    1-9  following legislative service or service and education may be
   1-10  substituted for the prelegal study and training and study of the
   1-11  law required of candidates for the examination for a license to
   1-12  practice law for persons who were members of the legislature before
   1-13  the 64th Legislature, Regular Session, convened in January 1975:
   1-14              (1)  membership in the legislature for 12 consecutive
   1-15  years;
   1-16              (2)  membership in the legislature for eight
   1-17  consecutive years and a bachelor's degree or its equivalent;
   1-18              (3)  membership in the legislature for four consecutive
   1-19  years, a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and adequate study of
   1-20  the law for at least two years at an approved law school; or
   1-21              (4)  service in both houses of the legislature and a
   1-22  master's degree or its equivalent.
   1-23        (b)  The following legislative service or service and
   1-24  education may be substituted for the prelegal study and training
    2-1  and study of the law required of candidates for the examination for
    2-2  a license to practice law:
    2-3              (1)  membership in the legislature for eight
    2-4  consecutive years, a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and
    2-5  adequate study of the law for at least one year at an approved law
    2-6  school; or
    2-7              (2)  membership in the legislature for four consecutive
    2-8  years, a bachelor's degree or its equivalent, and adequate study of
    2-9  the law for at least two years at an approved law school.
   2-10        (c)  A person applying for an exemption under this section
   2-11  must meet the requirements of Subsection (a) or (b) before applying
   2-12  to take the examination.
   2-13        (d) <(c)>  A person applying for an exemption under this
   2-14  section has given sufficient notice if the person gives to the
   2-15  clerk of the supreme court 30 days' notice of intention to take the
   2-16  examination.
   2-17        (e) <(d)>  This section does not affect the supreme court
   2-18  requirements relating to moral character.
   2-19        <(e)  This section applies only to persons who were members
   2-20  of the legislature before the 64th Legislature, Regular Session,
   2-21  convened in January 1975.>
   2-22        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-23  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-24  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-25  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-26  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-27  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    3-1  passage, and it is so enacted.