judicial conduct commission loses private reprimands

The text as introduced · 397 words

89R374 TSS-D

By: West
S.B. No. 221

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the disciplinary power of the State Commission on

Judicial Conduct to issue private reprimands.

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

SECTION 1. Section 33.001(a)(10), Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(10) "Sanction" means an order issued by the

commission under Section 1-a(8), Article V, Texas Constitution,

providing for a [ private or ] public admonition, warning, or

reprimand or requiring that a person obtain additional training or

education.

SECTION 2. Section 33.0212(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) Not later than the 90th day following the date

commission staff files with the commission the report required by

Subsection (a), the commission shall determine any action to be

taken regarding the complaint, including:

(1) a public sanction;

(2) [ a private sanction;

[ (3) ] a suspension;

(3) [ (4) ] an order of education;

(4) [ (5) ] an acceptance of resignation in lieu of

discipline;

(5) [ (6) ] a dismissal; or

(6) [ (7) ] an initiation of formal proceedings.

SECTION 3. Section 33.032(d), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) The disciplinary record of a judge [ , including any

private sanctions, ] is admissible in a subsequent proceeding before

the commission, a special master, a special court of review, or a

review tribunal.

SECTION 4. Section 33.033(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) The communication shall inform the complainant that:

(1) the case has been dismissed;

(2) an [ a private sanction or ] order of additional

education has been issued by the commission;

(3) a public sanction has been issued by the

commission;

(4) formal proceedings have been instituted; or

(5) a judge has resigned from judicial office in lieu

of disciplinary action by the commission.

SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a sanction issued by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct on or

after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect January 1, 2026, but only

if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature,

Regular Session, 2025, regarding the disciplinary powers of the

State Commission on Judicial Conduct is approved by the voters. If

that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no

effect.