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.