By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1763
 
  (Schofield)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the procedures of the State Commission on Judicial
  Conduct.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.005(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The report must include:
               (1)  an explanation of the role of the commission;
               (2)  annual statistical information for the preceding
  fiscal year, including:
                     (A)  the number of complaints received by the
  commission alleging judicial misconduct or disability;
                     (B)  the number of complaints dismissed without
  commission action other than investigation because the evidence did
  not support the allegation or appearance of judicial misconduct or
  disability;
                     (C)  the number of complaints dismissed without
  commission action other than investigation because the facts
  alleged did not constitute judicial misconduct or disability;
                     (D)  the number of complaints dismissed without
  commission action other than investigation because the allegation
  or appearance of judicial misconduct or disability was determined
  to be unfounded or frivolous;
                     (E)  the number of complaints before the
  commission that have been pending for a year or longer for which the
  commission has not issued a tentative decision;
                     (F)  the number of complaints that have been
  referred to law enforcement;
                     (G)  the number of each type of judicial
  misconduct or disability that resulted in sanction or censure of a
  judge; and
                     (H) [(F)]  examples of improper judicial conduct;
               (3)  an explanation of the commission's processes; and
               (4)  changes the commission considers necessary in its
  rules or the applicable statutes or constitutional provisions.
         SECTION 2.  Section 33.008, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 33.008.  JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT INFORMATION. (a)  The
  commission shall routinely provide to entities that provide
  education to judges information relating to judicial misconduct
  resulting in sanctions or orders of additional education issued by
  the commission. The commission shall categorize the information by
  level of judge and type of misconduct.
         (b)  The commission shall provide online access, without
  providing any confidential information, to information about each
  adjudicated complaint that resulted in a sanction being issued.  
  The information provided must include the judge's name and whether
  the complaint resulted in a:
               (1)  public sanction; or
               (2)  private sanction.
         (c)  The commission shall post on the commission's Internet
  website a statement that a complainant is not required to maintain
  confidentiality of a complaint filed by the complainant.
         SECTION 3.  Section 33.0211(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  The commission, [at least quarterly] until final
  disposition of the complaint, shall notify the person filing the
  complaint of any change in the status of the investigation of the
  complaint unless the notice would jeopardize an undercover
  investigation.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 33, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 33.02115 and 33.02116 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 33.02115.  SANCTION GUIDELINES. The commission shall
  establish guidelines to provide for a sanction to be proportional
  to the misconduct.
         Sec. 33.02116.  TIME FRAME. The commission shall establish
  a time frame outlining when the commission should take action on a
  complaint. The time frame must allow the executive director to
  approve an extension of a deadline due to extenuating
  circumstances, including a need for further investigation.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.