By Longoria                                      H.B. No. 444

      75R2958 MLS-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the licensing of certain persons as attorneys.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 82, Government Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 82.026 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 82.026.  EXAMINATION EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN PERSONS.

 1-7     (a)  The supreme court, by general order, may exempt from the

 1-8     examination requirement for a license to practice law any person

 1-9     who:

1-10                 (1)  has completed the prescribed study in an approved

1-11     law school;

1-12                 (2)  has not previously been licensed to practice law

1-13     in this state; and

1-14                 (3)  has worked in a law office in this state for at

1-15     least 10 consecutive years.

1-16           (b)  A person exempt from examination under this section must

1-17     furnish the evidence as to moral character required of candidates

1-18     to take the bar examination in this state.

1-19           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-24     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

 2-1     passage, and it is so enacted.