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.