Hall Ethics Bill Cuts The Commission’s Deadline To 30 Days

The text as introduced · 411 words

89R2596 CJD-D

By: Hall
S.B. No. 139

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to complaints filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 571.1223, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 571.1223. DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT FOLLOWING CORRECTED

OR AMENDED STATEMENT, REGISTRATION, OR REPORT. At any stage of a

proceeding under this subchapter, the commission shall dismiss a

complaint to the extent the complaint alleges a statement,

registration, or report violates a law or rule if:

(1) the respondent has filed a corrected or amended

statement, registration, or report before the commission issues a

final decision on [ accepts jurisdiction over ] the complaint; and

(2) the corrected or amended statement, registration,

or report remedies the alleged violation.

SECTION 2. Section 571.1241, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(d) If it is determined that the commission has jurisdiction

over the violation alleged in a complaint, the respondent may bring

an action in a district court in the county in which the respondent

resides to review that determination. The respondent must bring

the action not later than the 90th day after the date the respondent

receives notice of the determination.

SECTION 3. Section 571.1242(g), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(g) Not later than the 30th [ 120th ] day after the [ later of

the ] date the commission receives a respondent's response to notice

as required by Subsection (a) or (b) [ or the respondent's response

to written questions as required by Subsection (f) ], the commission

shall:

(1) propose an agreement to the respondent to settle

the complaint without holding a preliminary hearing; or

(2) dismiss the complaint.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter

571, Government Code, apply only to a complaint filed under that

chapter on or after the effective date of this Act. A complaint

filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law

in effect on the date the complaint was filed, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. 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, 2025.