By Rodriguez, et al. H.B. No. 850
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to permitting certain students to take the examination for
1-3 a license to practice law in this state.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. (a) Sections 82.0241(a) and (c), Government
1-6 Code, effective until June 1, 1993, are amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) A person who was enrolled at the Reynaldo G. Garza
1-8 School of Law <located in the City of Edinburg before June 1,
1-9 1989,> and who satisfies the law study requirements for taking the
1-10 examination for a license to practice law in this state before June
1-11 1, 1997 <1993>, may not be denied licensing solely on the basis of
1-12 having been graduated from that school.
1-13 (c) This section expires June 1, 1997 <1993>. This section
1-14 expires on January 1, 1994, unless the administration of Reynaldo
1-15 G. Garza School of Law before that date submits to the Board of Law
1-16 Examiners evidence that the school has applied for accreditation by
1-17 the American Bar Association.
1-18 (b) This section takes effect only if this Act takes effect
1-19 before June 1, 1993.
1-20 SECTION 2. (a) Subchapter B, Chapter 82, Government Code,
1-21 is amended by adding Section 82.0242 to read as follows:
1-22 Sec. 82.0242. GARZA SCHOOL OF LAW: TEMPORARY PROVISION.
1-23 (a) A person who was enrolled at the Reynaldo G. Garza School of
1-24 Law and who satisfies the law study requirements for taking the
2-1 examination for a license to practice law in this state before June
2-2 1, 1999, may not be denied licensing solely on the basis of having
2-3 been graduated from that school.
2-4 (b) The Reynaldo G. Garza School of Law shall provide
2-5 written notice of this temporary provision to each person who is
2-6 enrolled or was enrolled at the school at any time.
2-7 (c) This section expires June 1, 1997. This section expires
2-8 on January 1, 1994, unless the administration of Reynaldo G. Garza
2-9 School of Law before that date submits to the Board of Law
2-10 Examiners evidence that the school has applied for accreditation by
2-11 the American Bar Association.
2-12 (b) This section takes effect only if this Act takes effect
2-13 on or after June 1, 1993.
2-14 SECTION 3. Section 82.0241, Government Code, to be effective
2-15 June 1, 1993, is amended to read as follows:
2-16 Sec. 82.0243 <82.0241>. UNACCREDITED SCHOOLS OF LAW. All
2-17 matters relating to licensing of persons who were enrolled at
2-18 unaccredited schools of law in this state are within the exclusive
2-19 jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of Texas and those
2-20 persons graduating from the Reynaldo G. Garza School of Law may not
2-21 be denied examination by the Board of Law Examiners or licensing
2-22 solely on the basis of graduating from that school.
2-23 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-24 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-25 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-26 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-27 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-2 passage, and it is so enacted.