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79R737 RMB-D

By:  Gattis                                                       H.B. No. 679



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the participation of a judge in political party 
activities.     
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 33, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 33.039 to read as follows:
	Sec. 33.039.  POLITICAL PARTY ACTIVITIES.  Notwithstanding 
the Code of Judicial Conduct or any other law, a judge's 
participation in political party activities, including voting in a 
political party convention or serving as a delegate to any 
precinct, county, senatorial district, state, or national 
political party convention, does not constitute judicial 
misconduct.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies to an 
investigation of or a formal proceeding regarding a complaint of 
judicial misconduct  being conducted on or begun on or after the 
effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the conduct or act 
that is the subject of the investigation or proceeding occurred or 
was committed before, on, or after the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.