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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to preliminary review of complaints filed with a county |
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ethics commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (e), Section 161.1551, Local |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The standing preliminary review committee consists of |
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three persons, as follows: |
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(1) two members of the commission, determined as |
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provided by Subsection (c); and |
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(2) a review officer selected and retained by the |
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commission. |
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(e) The review officer must be a practicing attorney or |
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former judge. A commission member may serve as the review officer. |
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SECTION 2. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 161.159, Local |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If the alleged violation is a Category One violation: |
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(1) the respondent must respond to the notice required |
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by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the |
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respondent receives the notice; and |
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(2) if the matter is not resolved by agreement between |
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the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before |
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the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's |
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response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section |
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161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary |
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review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting. |
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(b) If the alleged violation is a Category Two violation: |
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(1) the respondent must respond to the notice required |
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by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the |
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respondent receives the notice under Section 161.156(b); and |
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(2) if the matter is not resolved by agreement between |
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the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before |
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the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's |
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response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section |
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161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary |
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review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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