By Zbranek H.B. No. 216 75R1123 MWV-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the qualifications of office for appellate judges and 1-3 justices. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 22, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 22.302 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 22.302. QUALIFICATIONS OF APPELLATE COURT JUDGE OR 1-8 JUSTICE. A judge or justice of the supreme court, the court of 1-9 criminal appeals, or a court of appeals must: 1-10 (1) be licensed to practice law in this state; 1-11 (2) be a citizen of the United States and a resident 1-12 of this state; 1-13 (3) be at least 35 years of age; and 1-14 (4) have been a practicing lawyer, or a lawyer and 1-15 judge of a court of record, for at least 10 years. 1-16 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2000, but only 1-17 if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 75th Legislature, 1-18 Regular Session, 1997, relating to allowing the legislature to 1-19 establish the qualifications of office for appellate justices and 1-20 judges, is approved by the voters. If that amendment is not 1-21 approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. 1-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.