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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.