By: Watson, Hinojosa, Taylor of Collin  S.B. No. 302
         (In the Senate - Filed February 24, 2017; February 27, 2017,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  March 29, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 29, 2017,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 302 By:  Hughes
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the continuation and functions of the state bar.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 81.003, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 81.003.  SUNSET PROVISION. The state bar is subject to
  Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as
  provided by that chapter, this chapter expires September 1, 2029
  [2017].
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.0201, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The training program must provide the person with
  information regarding:
               (1)  the law governing [legislation that created the]
  state bar operations [and the board];
               (2)  the programs operated by the state bar;
               (3)  the role and functions of the state bar;
               (4)  the rules of the state bar, with an emphasis on the
  rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority;
               (4-a)  the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking
  authority of the state bar;
               (5)  the current budget for the state bar;
               (6)  the results of the most recent formal audit of the
  state bar;
               (7)  the requirements of:
                     (A)  laws relating to [the] open meetings [law],
  [Chapter 551;
                     [(B)  the] public information [law],
  administrative procedure, and the disclosure of conflicts of
  interest [Chapter 552]; and
                     (B) [(C)]  other laws applicable to members of a
  state policymaking body in performing their duties [relating to
  public officials, including conflict-of-interest laws]; and
               (8)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
  state bar or the Texas Ethics Commission.
         (c)  The executive director shall create a training manual
  that includes the information required by Subsection (b). The
  executive director shall distribute a copy of the training manual
  annually to each member of the board of directors. On receipt of
  the training manual, each member of the board shall sign and submit
  to the executive director a statement acknowledging receipt of the
  training manual.
         SECTION 3.  Section 81.022, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  Any change in a membership fee or other fee for
  members of the state bar must be clearly described and included in
  the proposed budget and considered by the supreme court in the state
  bar budget deliberations. The change may not be implemented unless
  approved by the court as part of the state bar budget.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 81.024(a) and (b), Government Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The supreme court shall promulgate the rules governing
  the state bar. [The rules may be amended as provided by this
  section.]
         (b)  The supreme court may:
               (1)  [, either] as it considers necessary, pursuant to
  a resolution of the board of directors of the state bar, or pursuant
  to a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the registered
  members of the state bar, prepare, propose, and adopt rules or
  amendments to rules for the operation, maintenance, and
  administration [conduct] of the state bar; and
               (2)  in accordance with Subchapter E-1, adopt rules,
  including the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and
  the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, for the discipline of
  state bar [its] members.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 81.037 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.037.  CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION. (a)  The
  state bar shall require that each member of the state bar submit a
  complete and legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by
  the state bar, to the state bar or to the Department of Public
  Safety for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record
  information from the department and the Federal Bureau of
  Investigation.  The state bar may obtain the information from the
  Board of Law Examiners for a state bar member who has been issued an
  initial license.
         (b)  A state bar member is not required to submit
  fingerprints under this section if the member has previously
  submitted fingerprints to:
               (1)  the Board of Law Examiners and the Board of Law
  Examiners made the information accessible to the state bar; or
               (2)  the state bar or the Department of Public Safety
  under this chapter.
         (c)  The state bar shall conduct a criminal history record
  check of each member of the state bar using information:
               (1)  provided by the state bar member or the Board of
  Law Examiners under this section; or
               (2)  made available to the state bar by the Department
  of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any
  other criminal justice agency under Chapter 411, Government Code.
         (d)  The state bar may:
               (1)  enter into an agreement with the Department of
  Public Safety to administer a criminal history record check
  required under this section; and
               (2)  authorize the Department of Public Safety to
  collect from each state bar member the costs incurred by the
  department in conducting the criminal history record check.
         (e)  The state bar may administratively suspend the license
  of a member of the state bar who fails to assist the state bar in
  obtaining criminal history record information under this section.
         SECTION 6.  Section 81.054(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The supreme court shall set membership fees and other
  fees for members of the state bar during the court's annual budget
  process under Section 81.022. The fees, except as provided by
  Subsection (j) and those set for associate members, must be set in
  accordance with this section [and Section 81.024].
         SECTION 7.  Section 81.072(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The state bar shall establish a voluntary mediation and
  dispute resolution procedure to:
               (1)  attempt to resolve each minor grievance referred
  to the voluntary mediation and dispute resolution procedure by the
  chief disciplinary counsel [allegation of attorney misconduct that
  is:
                     [(A)     classified as an inquiry under Section
  81.073(a)(2)(A) because it does not constitute an offense
  cognizable under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional
  Conduct; or
                     [(B)     classified as a complaint and subsequently
  dismissed]; and
               (2)  facilitate coordination with other programs
  administered by the state bar to address and attempt to resolve
  inquiries and complaints referred to the voluntary mediation and
  dispute resolution procedure.
         SECTION 8.  Subchapter E, Chapter 81, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 81.080, 81.081, 81.082, 81.083, 81.084,
  81.085, and 81.086 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.080.  ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA; OBJECTION. (a)  On
  approval of the presiding officer of the appropriate district
  grievance committee, the chief disciplinary counsel may, during an
  investigation of a grievance, issue a subpoena that relates
  directly to a specific allegation of attorney misconduct.
         (b)  The chief disciplinary counsel shall provide a process
  for a respondent to object to a subpoena issued under this section.
         Sec. 81.081.  ATTORNEY SELF-REPORTING. The chief
  disciplinary counsel shall develop guidelines and a procedure for
  an attorney to self-report:
               (1)  any criminal offense committed by the attorney;
  and
               (2)  any disciplinary action taken by another state's
  bar against the attorney.
         Sec. 81.082.  PROCESS TO IDENTIFY COMPLAINTS SUITABLE FOR
  SETTLEMENT OR INVESTIGATORY HEARING. (a)  The chief disciplinary
  counsel shall develop a process to identify a complaint that is
  appropriate for a settlement attempt or an investigatory hearing
  before a trial is requested or the complaint is placed on a hearing
  docket.
         (b)  The chief disciplinary counsel may authorize a
  settlement at any time during the disciplinary process.
         Sec. 81.083.  SANCTION GUIDELINES. (a)  The chief
  disciplinary counsel shall propose and the supreme court shall
  adopt by rule sanction guidelines to:
               (1)  associate a specific rule violation or ethical
  misconduct with a range of appropriate sanctions;
               (2)  provide aggravating and mitigating factors that
  justify deviating from the established sanctions; and
               (3)  provide consistency between complaints heard by a
  district grievance committee and complaints heard by a district
  court.
         (b)  The chief disciplinary counsel shall ensure that
  interested parties are provided an opportunity to comment on the
  proposed sanction guidelines.
         (c)  The sanction guidelines adopted under this section do
  not limit the authority of a district grievance committee or of a
  district judge to make a finding or issue a decision.
         Sec. 81.084.  GRIEVANCE TRACKING SYSTEM. (a)  The chief
  disciplinary counsel shall create and maintain a grievance tracking
  system for grievances filed and disciplinary decisions issued under
  this subchapter.
         (b)  The grievance tracking system must:
               (1)  associate each rule violation or instance of
  ethical misconduct with the sanction imposed or final action taken
  for the violation or misconduct in a diversionary procedure adopted
  under state bar rules;
               (2)  address whether a sanction decision aligns with
  the sanction guidelines adopted under Section 81.083;
               (3)  specify the district grievance committee or
  district judge that imposed the sanction to evaluate sanction
  patterns within the disciplinary districts and facilitate training
  for district grievance committee members; and
               (4)  include sufficient information to evaluate and
  track disciplinary trends over time.
         (c)  The chief disciplinary counsel shall:
               (1)  periodically evaluate and report information
  gathered in the grievance tracking system to the commission and
  district grievance committee members; and
               (2)  post the information reported under Subdivision
  (1) on the state bar's Internet website.
         Sec. 81.085.  REGULAR SEARCH OF NATIONAL LAWYER REGULATORY
  DATA BANK. The chief disciplinary counsel shall establish a
  process to regularly search the National Lawyer Regulatory Data
  Bank maintained by the American Bar Association to identify a
  member of the state bar who is disciplined in another state.
         Sec. 81.086.  TELECONFERENCE. The chief disciplinary
  counsel may hold investigatory and disciplinary hearings by
  teleconference.
         SECTION 9.  Chapter 81, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapters E-1 and E-2 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E-1. COMMITTEE ON DISCIPLINARY RULES AND REFERENDA;
  DISCIPLINARY RULE PROPOSAL PROCESS
         Sec. 81.0871.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "committee"
  means the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda.
         Sec. 81.0872.  ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE. (a)  The
  committee consists of nine members, including:
               (1)  three attorneys appointed by the president of the
  state bar;
               (2)  one nonattorney public member appointed by the
  president of the state bar;
               (3)  four attorneys appointed by the supreme court; and
               (4)  one nonattorney public member appointed by the
  supreme court.
         (b)  The president of the state bar and the chief justice of
  the supreme court shall alternate designating an attorney member of
  the committee to serve as the presiding officer of the committee for
  a term of one year.
         (c)  Committee members serve staggered three-year terms,
  with one-third of the members' terms expiring each year.
         Sec. 81.0873.  COMMITTEE DUTIES. The committee shall:
               (1)  regularly review the Texas Disciplinary Rules of
  Professional Conduct and the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure;
               (2)  at least annually issue to the supreme court and
  the board of directors a report on the adequacy of the rules
  reviewed under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  oversee the initial process for proposing a
  disciplinary rule under Section 81.0875.
         Sec. 81.0874.  STAFF ATTORNEY. The state bar may hire a
  staff attorney to assist the committee.
         Sec. 81.0875.  INITIATION OF RULE PROPOSAL PROCESS.
  (a)  The committee may initiate the process for proposing a
  disciplinary rule for the state bar as the committee considers
  necessary or in conjunction with the review of the Texas
  Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct and the Texas Rules of
  Disciplinary Procedure under Section 81.0873(1).
         (b)  Not later than the 60th day after the date the committee
  receives a request to initiate the process for proposing a
  disciplinary rule, the committee shall:
               (1)  initiate the process; or
               (2)  issue a written decision declining to initiate the
  process and the reasons for declining.
         (c)  A request to initiate the process for proposing a
  disciplinary rule under Subsection (b) may be made by:
               (1)  a resolution of the board of directors;
               (2)  a request of the supreme court;
               (3)  a request of the commission;
               (4)  a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the
  registered members of the state bar;
               (5)  a concurrent resolution of the legislature; or
               (6)  a petition signed by at least 20,000 people.
         Sec. 81.0876.  RULE PROPOSAL. (a)  On initiation of the
  process for proposing a disciplinary rule, the committee shall:
               (1)  study the issue to be addressed by the proposed
  rule;
               (2)  hold a public hearing on the issue;
               (3)  draft the proposed rule, which may not address
  more than one subject; and
               (4)  make all reasonable efforts to solicit comments
  from different geographic regions in this state, nonattorney
  members of the public, and members of the state bar.
         (b)  A proposed disciplinary rule is withdrawn six months
  after the date the rule proposal process is initiated under Section
  81.0875(b)(1) if the proposed disciplinary rule is not published on
  or before that date in:
               (1)  the Texas Register; and
               (2)  the Texas Bar Journal.
         (c)  The committee shall give interested parties at least 30
  days from the date the proposed disciplinary rule is published as
  required under Subsection (b) to submit comments on the rule to the
  committee.
         (d)  The committee shall hold a public hearing on the
  proposed disciplinary rule if, during the comment period described
  by Subsection (c), the hearing is requested by:
               (1)  at least 25 people;
               (2)  a state agency or political subdivision of this
  state; or
               (3)  an association with at least 25 members.
         (e)  On conclusion of the comment period described by
  Subsection (c), the committee may amend the proposed disciplinary
  rule in response to the comments.
         (f)  The committee shall vote on whether to recommend a
  proposed disciplinary rule to the board of directors not later than
  the 60th day after the final day of the comment period described by
  Subsection (c). The committee may not recommend a proposed
  disciplinary rule unless at least five members of the committee
  favor recommendation.
         (g)  The committee shall submit a proposed disciplinary rule
  that is recommended by the committee to the board of directors for
  review and consideration.
         Sec. 81.0877.   APPROVAL OF PROPOSED DISCIPLINARY RULE BY
  BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a)  The board of directors shall vote on each
  proposed disciplinary rule recommended by the committee not later
  than the 120th day after the date the rule is received from the
  committee. The board shall vote for or against the rule or return
  the rule to the committee for additional consideration.
         (b)  If a proposed disciplinary rule is approved by a
  majority of the directors, the board of directors shall petition
  the supreme court to order a referendum as provided by Section
  81.0878 on the rule by the members of the state bar.
         Sec. 81.0878.  REFERENDUM VOTE BY STATE BAR MEMBERS.
  (a)  On receipt of a petition filed by the board of directors under
  Section 81.0877(b), the supreme court shall:
               (1)  distribute a copy of the rule in ballot form to
  each member of the state bar and order a vote on the rule; and
               (2)  publish the rule in:
                     (A)  the Texas Register; and
                     (B)  the Texas Bar Journal.
         (b)  The supreme court shall give state bar members:
               (1)  at least 30 days to consider a proposed
  disciplinary rule before voting begins; and
               (2)  30 days to vote on the proposed disciplinary rule
  following the period for considering the proposed rule under
  Subdivision (1).
         (c)  The state bar shall provide proponents and opponents of
  a proposed disciplinary rule an equal opportunity to present their
  views at any bar-sponsored forum at which the rule referendum is
  discussed.
         (d)  One or more proposed disciplinary rules may appear on a
  single referendum ballot. State bar members shall vote for or
  against each rule.  If a majority of the members who vote on the
  proposed rule vote in favor of the rule, the rule is approved by the
  members of the state bar.
         Sec. 81.0879.  SUPREME COURT APPROVAL OR REJECTION. The
  supreme court by majority vote may approve or reject a proposed
  disciplinary rule in its entirety, but may not approve or reject
  only part of the rule. If the supreme court does not vote on the
  rule on or before the 120th day after the date the rule is approved
  by bar members under Section 81.0878, the rule is considered
  approved by the supreme court.
         Sec. 81.08791.  RULE DELIBERATIONS. (a)  The committee, the
  board of directors, or the supreme court shall provide notice of any
  deliberation on a proposed disciplinary rule, and the deliberation
  must be open to the public.
         (b)  The board of directors and the supreme court shall
  record and make public each vote for or against a proposed
  disciplinary rule.
         Sec. 81.08792.  PROPOSED DISCIPLINARY RULE APPROVAL
  REQUIRED BEFORE ADOPTION. A proposed disciplinary rule may not be
  adopted by the supreme court unless the rule is approved by:
               (1)  the committee;
               (2)  the board of directors;
               (3)  the members of the state bar; and
               (4)  the supreme court.
         Sec. 81.08793.  USE OF TECHNOLOGY. The supreme court, the
  committee, and the state bar shall use technological solutions
  throughout the disciplinary rule proposal process to promote:
               (1)  financial efficiency; and
               (2)  comments from interested persons.
         Sec. 81.08794.  EXPIRED TIME AND DEFEATED RULE PROPOSAL.  
  (a)  If a time limit provided by this subchapter expires or a
  disciplinary rule proposal is otherwise defeated, the process for
  initiating the proposed disciplinary rule may again be initiated in
  accordance with this subchapter.
         (b)  For good cause shown, the supreme court may grant a
  petition to extend any time limit provided by this subchapter until
  a date that is not later than the 90th day after the original
  deadline.
  SUBCHAPTER E-2. OMBUDSMAN FOR ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE SYSTEM
         Sec. 81.0881.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Ombudsman" means the ombudsman for the attorney
  discipline system of the state bar.
               (2)  "System" means the attorney discipline system of
  the state bar.
         Sec. 81.0882.  OMBUDSMAN FOR ATTORNEY DISCIPLINE SYSTEM.
  (a)  The state bar shall fund one full-time equivalent position of
  ombudsman for the attorney discipline system.
         (b)  The ombudsman is selected by the members of the supreme
  court and is independent of the state bar, the board of directors,
  the commission, and the chief disciplinary counsel.
         (c)  The ombudsman shall report directly to the supreme
  court.
         Sec. 81.0883.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF OMBUDSMAN. (a)  The
  ombudsman shall:
               (1)  review grievances to determine whether the state
  bar followed the proper grievance procedures;
               (2)  receive complaints about the system;
               (3)  receive and investigate complaints on violations
  of the system's procedural rules;
               (4)  answer questions from the public on the system's
  operation, accessing the system, and the availability of other
  state bar programs;
               (5)  assist members of the public wishing to submit a
  lawyer grievance by explaining the information required and the
  methods for submitting the information; and
               (6)  at least annually, make recommendations to the
  board of directors and the supreme court for improvements to the
  system, including ways to improve access to the system and changes
  to the grievance form.
         (b)  The ombudsman may not:
               (1)  draft a complaint for a member of the public;
               (2)  act as an advocate for a member of the public;
               (3)  reverse or modify a finding or judgment in any
  disciplinary proceeding; or
               (4)  intervene in any disciplinary matter.
         Sec. 81.0884.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION. The chief
  disciplinary counsel, a district grievance committee, the board of
  directors, the commission, and state bar members shall share with
  the ombudsman requested information that is necessary to:
               (1)  determine whether the state bar followed
  procedural rules related to a particular grievance; or
               (2)  evaluate the system's efficacy and adequacy.
         Sec. 81.0885.  CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION; PRIVILEGED
  COMMUNICATIONS. (a)  All types of information, proceedings,
  hearing transcripts, and statements presented to the ombudsman are
  confidential and may not be disclosed to any person other than the
  chief disciplinary counsel unless disclosure is ordered by a court.
         (b)  The ombudsman may not access privileged communications
  and information shared between the chief disciplinary counsel and
  the commission.
         SECTION 10.  Section 81.115(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A profile must contain the following information on each
  attorney:
               (1)  the name of each law school attended and the date
  the attorney graduated;
               (2)  the date the attorney became licensed to practice
  law in this state;
               (3)  any specialty certification recognized by the
  state bar and held by the attorney;
               (4)  the attorney's primary practice location;
               (5)  any public disciplinary sanctions issued by the
  state bar against the attorney, including a link on the attorney's
  online profile to the full text of the disciplinary judgment
  entered by a district grievance committee or district judge [during
  at least the 10-year period preceding the date of the profile]; and
               (6)  any public disciplinary sanctions issued by an
  entity in another state responsible for attorney discipline in that
  state against the attorney [during at least the 10-year period
  preceding the date of the profile].
         SECTION 11.  Section 411.100, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 411.100.  ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD
  INFORMATION: BOARD OF LAW EXAMINERS AND STATE BAR OF TEXAS.
  (a)  The Board of Law Examiners is entitled to obtain from the
  department criminal history record information maintained by the
  department that relates to a person who is an applicant to take a
  bar examination.
         (a-1)  The State Bar of Texas is entitled to obtain:
               (1)  from the department, criminal history record
  information maintained by the department that relates to a person
  who is a member of the state bar; or
               (2)  from the Board of Law Examiners, criminal history
  record information obtained under Subsection (a).
         (b)  Criminal history record information obtained [by the
  board] under Subsection (a) or (a-1) may not be released or
  disclosed to any person, except on court order or with consent of
  the applicant.
         (c)  Immediately following the [board's] decision of the
  Board of Law Examiners on recommending an applicant, the board
  shall collect and make accessible to the State Bar of Texas [seal]
  all criminal history record information obtained by the board that
  relates to that applicant.
         SECTION 12.  Section 411.1005(a), Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The chief disciplinary [general] counsel of the State
  Bar of Texas is entitled to obtain from the department criminal
  history record information maintained by the department that
  relates to a person who is:
               (1)  [a person] licensed by the state bar;
               (2)  [and who is] the subject of or involved in an
  investigation of:
                     (A)  professional misconduct relating to a
  grievance filed under the disciplinary rules of the state bar; or
                     (B)  barratry, the unauthorized practice of law,
  or falsely holding oneself out as a lawyer, in violation of Section
  38.12, 38.122, or 38.123, Penal Code;
               (3) [(2)]  a witness in any disciplinary action or
  proceeding conducted by the state bar, the Board of Disciplinary
  Appeals, or any court; or
               (4) [(3)]  an applicant for reinstatement to practice
  law.
         SECTION 13.  The following provisions of the Government Code
  are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 81.024(c), (d), (e), (f), and (g); and
               (2)  Section 411.1005(c).
         SECTION 14.  (a)  The State Bar of Texas shall obtain
  criminal history record information on each person who is a member
  of the state bar on the effective date of this Act as authorized by
  Section 81.037, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later
  than September 1, 2019.
         (b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act, but not later than January 1, 2018, the president of the State
  Bar of Texas and the Texas Supreme Court shall appoint the initial
  members of the Committee on Disciplinary Rules and Referenda as
  follows:
               (1)  the state bar president shall appoint one person
  to a term expiring in 2018;
               (2)  the supreme court shall appoint two people to
  terms expiring in 2018;
               (3)  the state bar president shall appoint two people
  to terms expiring in 2019;
               (4)  the supreme court shall appoint one person to a
  term expiring in 2019;
               (5)  the state bar president shall appoint one person
  to a term expiring in 2020; and
               (6)  the supreme court shall appoint two people to
  terms expiring in 2020.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subchapter E-1, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas Supreme
  Court shall adopt the rules necessary to:
               (1)  modify the voluntary mediation and dispute
  resolution procedures for grievances as required by Section
  81.072(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act;
               (2)  authorize the issuance of subpoenas under Section
  81.080, Government Code, as added by this Act;
               (3)  implement Section 81.081, Government Code, as
  added by this Act;
               (4)  revise the time provided for grievance
  investigations, subpoena issuance, investigatory hearings, and
  providing voluntary mediation and dispute resolution under Section
  81.072(e), Government Code, as amended by this Act;
               (5)  establish the process to identify complaints
  suitable for settlement attempts and authorize the chief
  disciplinary counsel to conduct investigatory and disciplinary
  hearings by teleconference under Sections 81.082 and 81.086,
  Government Code, as added by this Act;
               (6)  establish the grievance referral program as
  required by Subsection (d)(3) of this section; and
               (7)  establish the sanction guidelines proposed by the
  chief disciplinary counsel under Section 81.083, Government Code,
  as added by this Act.
         (d)  The chief disciplinary counsel shall:
               (1)  develop proposed changes to the disciplinary rules
  regarding the time for conducting an investigation of a grievance
  or issuing a subpoena related to an investigation or attempting a
  settlement in an investigatory hearing under Section 81.082,
  Government Code, as added by this Act;
               (2)  propose rules necessary to implement the
  settlement process described by Section 81.082, Government Code, as
  added by this Act; and
               (3)  propose rules to establish a grievance referral
  program under the Texas Rules of Disciplinary Procedure, including
  criteria for attorney participation and authorization for use of
  the program at any point in the attorney disciplinary process.
         (e)  The State Bar of Texas shall assist the Texas Supreme
  Court on rule modifications to the Texas Rules of Disciplinary
  Procedure that are necessary to address Section 81.072(e)(1),
  Government Code, as amended by this Act, including:
               (1)  types of grievances the chief disciplinary counsel
  may refer to the voluntary mediation and dispute resolution
  procedure and the criteria defining the grievance types;
               (2)  modifications to the time for processing
  grievances to accommodate voluntary mediation and dispute
  resolution and the establishment of a limit on the time for
  resolution through voluntary mediation and dispute resolution or
  referral to the formal grievance process for further action; and
               (3)  confidentiality rules to allow the chief
  disciplinary counsel and client-attorney assistance program to
  share appropriate information in a case referred for voluntary
  mediation and dispute resolution.
         (f)  The State Bar of Texas shall include on attorneys'
  online profiles any historical information on public disciplinary
  sanctions as is practicable under Section 81.115(b), Government
  Code, as amended by this Act. A public disciplinary action issued
  on or after the effective date of this Act must be included on the
  attorney's online profile as required by Section 81.115(b),
  Government Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 15.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
  this section, Section 81.0201, Government Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies to a member of the board of directors of the State Bar
  of Texas appointed before, on, or after the effective date of this
  Act.
         (b)  A member of the board of directors of the State Bar of
  Texas who, before the effective date of this Act, completed the
  training program required by Section 81.0201, Government Code, as
  that law existed before the effective date of this Act, is required
  to complete additional training only on subjects added by this Act
  to the training program as required by Section 81.0201, Government
  Code, as amended by this Act. A board member described by this
  subsection may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in
  attendance at a meeting of the board held on or after December 1,
  2017, until the member completes the additional training.
         SECTION 16.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
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