SRC-HRD S.B. 1184 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1184
By: Ellis
Jurisprudence
3-27-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas judges serving on the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct enjoy absolute immunity from liability for any acts done in their
judicial capacity, while citizen members of the commission do not enjoy
absolute immunity.  This bill would entitled citizen members, as well as
the staff of the commission, to have the same immunity as the judges that
serve on the commission. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1184 provides that the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct, its executive director, any commission employee, or any special
master or special counsel assisting the commission, is not liable for
certain damages.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 33B, Government Code, by adding Section 33.035,
as follows: 

Sec. 33.035.  IMMUNITY. Provides that the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct (commission), any member of the commission, the executive director
of the commission, any employee of the commission, or any special master
or special counsel assisting the commission is not liable for any damages
for an act or omission in the course of the official duties of the
commission. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.