78R6072 QS-D
By: Ellis H.B. No. 1768
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the recovery by the State Commission on Judicial
Conduct of certain costs, fees, and expenses on a finding of
misconduct of a judge.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 33.031, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 33.031. [NO AWARD OF] COSTS, FEES, AND EXPENSES. (a)
Except as provided by Subsection (b), court [Court] costs or
attorney's fees may not be awarded in a proceeding under this
chapter.
(b) On a finding of misconduct of a judge in formal
proceedings before a special master or the commission, the
commission is entitled to recover from the judge court costs,
attorney's fees, and reasonable expenses related to the
proceedings.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to formal proceedings instituted on or after the effective date of
this Act. Formal proceedings instituted before the effective date
of this Act are governed by the law in effect at the time the
proceedings were instituted, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.