BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 820

80R7741 JRH-D                                                                                                        By: Wentworth

Jurisprudence

3/22/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Although the Texas Legislature meets for only 140 days every other year, current Texas State Bar rules credit legislators who are attorneys with meeting the minimum continuing legal education requirements for every reporting period.

As proposed, S.B. 820 prohibits the Texas State Bar from crediting attorneys with meeting the continuing legal education requirements if the credit is based solely on their service as a member of the legislature.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.113, Government Code, by adding Subsection (d), to prohibit the state bar from crediting an attorney licensed in this state with meeting minimum continuing legal education requirements of the state bar for a compliance year if the credit is solely based on the attorney's service as a member of the Texas senate or house of representatives, notwithstanding Section 4(H), Article XII, State Bar Rules, or any other rule adopted by the supreme court.

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective to September 1, 2008.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2007.