TITLE: Relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district court judges for assignment as a visiting judge.

SUMMARY: Relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district court judges for assignment as a visiting judge.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the eligibility of certain retired or former district court judges for assignment as a visiting judge. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 74.055, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d), (f-1), and (h) to read as follows: (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c)(4), a retired or former district court judge is eligible to be named on the list if the retired or former district court judge certifies under oath to the presiding judge, on a form prescribed by the state board of regional judges, that during the 15 years preceding assignment under this section: (1) the judge has not been publicly reprimanded or censured by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct; and (2) the judge: (A) did not resign or retire from office after the State Commission on Judicial Conduct notified the judge of the commencement of a full investigation into an allegation or appearance of misconduct or disability of the judge as provided in Section 33.022 and before the final disposition of that investigation; or (B) if the judge resigned from office under circumstances described by Paragraph (A), was not publicly reprimanded or censured as a result of the investigation. (f-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (f), a former or retired district court judge is ineligible to be named on the list only if during the 15 years preceding appointment under this section the former or retired judge is identified in a public statement issued by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct as having resigned or retired from office in lieu of discipline. (h) Subsections (d) and (f-1) and this subsection expire September 1, 2033. SECTION 2. 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.