82R10334 YDB-F

By: Reynolds H.B. No. 2919

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state bar rules adopted or amended by the supreme court.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 81.024, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (e-1) to read as follows:

(c-1) For each proposed rule or amendment to a rule the supreme court prepares under Subsection (c), the state bar on receipt from the supreme court of a copy of the rule or amendment shall:

(1) publish the proposed rule or amendment in the Texas Bar Journal;

(2) post the proposed rule or amendment on the state bar's Internet website on a page accessible to the public without fee or registration in a manner that allows:

(A) viewers to submit comments on the website; and

(B) submitted comments to be viewed immediately on the website; and

(3) accept all written comments on the proposed rule or amendment until the 30th day after the date the rule or amendment is posted and published under this subsection and make the written comments available for review by the public without fee or charge.

(c-2) The state bar may not take a position on a proposed rule or an amendment to a rule prepared by the supreme court under this section.

(e-1) Unless an emergency exists, the supreme court may not adopt a rule or amendment to a rule before the 30th day after the later of the date the rule or amendment is:

(1) published in the Texas Bar Journal; or

(2) posted on the state bar's Internet website.

SECTION 2. Section 81.024, Government Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a proposed state bar rule or amendment to a rule prepared by the supreme court on or after January 1, 2012.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.