SB221 - Relating to the disciplinary power of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to issue private reprimands.

  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.