Bill Text: TX SB891 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to State Bar of Texas elections.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-31 - Co-author authorized [SB891 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB891-Introduced.html
| 87R8917 YDB-D | ||
| By: Eckhardt | S.B. No. 891 | |
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| relating to State Bar of Texas elections. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 81.019, Government Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read | ||
| as follows: | ||
| (b) Except as provided by Subsections [ |
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| (d), the officers shall be elected in accordance with rules for the | ||
| election of officers and directors prepared and proposed by the | ||
| supreme court as provided by Section 81.024. | ||
| (c) The election rules must permit any member's name to be | ||
| printed on the ballot as a candidate for president-elect if a | ||
| written petition requesting that action and signed by at least 500 | ||
| active members [ |
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| filed with the executive director at least 30 days before the | ||
| election ballots are to be distributed to the membership. | ||
| (d) The election rules must permit electronic signatures on | ||
| a written petition submitted as provided by Subsection (c). | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 81.0243 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 81.0243. VOTING DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED; INJUNCTIVE | ||
| RELIEF. (a) Voting discrimination based on religion, age, sex, | ||
| race, color, creed, or national origin is prohibited in any form by | ||
| members of the state bar in elections under this chapter. | ||
| (b) A person may bring an action for injunctive relief | ||
| against a member of the state bar who appears to be violating or is | ||
| threatening to violate Subsection (a). Venue for the action is a | ||
| district court in Travis County. The person may recover reasonable | ||
| expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief, including court | ||
| costs and attorney's fees. | ||
| SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary | ||
| to implement the changes in law made by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 4. 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. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
