By: Rodriguez  S.B. No. 334
         (In the Senate - Filed February 1, 2013; February 5, 2013,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
  Relations; April 2, 2013, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; April 2, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to preliminary review of complaints filed with a county
  ethics commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (b) and (e), Section 161.1551, Local
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The standing preliminary review committee consists of
  three persons, as follows:
               (1)  two members of the commission, determined as
  provided by Subsection (c); and
               (2)  a review officer selected and retained by the
  commission.
         (e)  The review officer must be a practicing attorney or
  former judge. A commission member may serve as the review officer.
         SECTION 2.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 161.159, Local
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  If the alleged violation is a Category One violation:
               (1)  the respondent must respond to the notice required
  by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the
  respondent receives the notice; and
               (2)  if the matter is not resolved by agreement between
  the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before
  the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's
  response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section
  161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary
  review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting.
         (b)  If the alleged violation is a Category Two violation:
               (1)  the respondent must respond to the notice required
  by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the
  respondent receives the notice under Section 161.156(b); and
               (2)  if the matter is not resolved by agreement between
  the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before
  the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's
  response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section
  161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary
  review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting.
         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, 2013.
 
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