By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 334
(Marquez)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to preliminary review of complaints filed with a county
ethics commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (e), Section 161.1551, Local
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) The standing preliminary review committee consists of
three persons, as follows:
(1) two members of the commission, determined as
provided by Subsection (c); and
(2) a review officer selected and retained by the
commission.
(e) The review officer must be a practicing attorney or
former judge. A commission member may serve as the review officer.
SECTION 2. Subsections (a) and (b), Section 161.159, Local
Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) If the alleged violation is a Category One violation:
(1) the respondent must respond to the notice required
by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the
respondent receives the notice; and
(2) if the matter is not resolved by agreement between
the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before
the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's
response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section
161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary
review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting.
(b) If the alleged violation is a Category Two violation:
(1) the respondent must respond to the notice required
by Section 161.156(b) not later than the 14th day after the date the
respondent receives the notice under Section 161.156(b); and
(2) if the matter is not resolved by agreement between
the standing preliminary review committee and the respondent before
the 30th day after the date the committee receives the respondent's
response to [respondent receives] the notice given under Section
161.156(b), the committee shall set the matter for a preliminary
review hearing to be held at the next committee meeting.
SECTION 3. 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, 2013.