73R3691 MWV-D
          By Gallego                                            H.B. No. 1918
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to disclosure of certain information by the State
    1-3  Commission on Judicial Conduct.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 33.032, Government Code, is amended by
    1-6  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
    1-7  follows:
    1-8        (a)  Except as provided by Section 33.034(d) and Subsections
    1-9  <Subsection> (c) and (d) of this section, the papers filed with and
   1-10  proceedings before the commission are confidential prior to the
   1-11  convening of a formal hearing.
   1-12        (d)  The commission may disclose information it has regarding
   1-13  an investigation of a judge or a public or private sanction issued
   1-14  by the commission against a judge to the governor's appointments
   1-15  office or an official of the government of the United States after
   1-16  receipt of a written request from the office or the official,
   1-17  accompanied by a written request from the affected judge granting
   1-18  permission for release of all information.  If investigative
   1-19  information in the possession of the commission indicates a crime
   1-20  may have been committed, the commission may report the information
   1-21  to the proper law enforcement agency.
   1-22        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-23        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-24  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
    2-4                       COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
    2-5        Amend House Bill 1918 as follows:
    2-6        (1)  On page 1, line 18, strike the words "þLIf investigativeää".
    2-7        (2)  On page 1, strike lines 19 through 21.
    2-8        (3)  On page 1, following line 21, insert a new Subsection
    2-9  (e) to read as follows:
   2-10        "(e)  If, through investigation, the commission discovers
   2-11  information which indicates that a crime may have been committed,
   2-12  the commission shall report the information to the proper law
   2-13  enforcement agency."
   2-14                                                               Sadler