Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB302 by Watson (Relating to the continuation and functions of the state bar.), Conference Committee Report
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Government Code to extend the State Bar's sunset expiration date to September 1, 2029, expand training requirements for certain board members, revise grievance and disciplinary proceedings, require the Supreme Court to appoint an ombudsman to review and oversee the grievance system, and define the composition and operations of the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda. The bill requires the State Bar to obtain criminal history record information on each state bar member whose information is already on file with the Department of Public Safety or the Board of Law Examiners.
According to the Sunset Commission, the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Court Administration, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts, provisions of the bill could be accomplished through existing resources.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
116 Sunset Advisory Commission, 212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety