| 1 | 1 | | 86R13947 PMO-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gervin-Hawkins H.B. No. 2844 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the licensure in this state of certain attorneys who are |
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| 8 | 8 | | licensed to practice law in another state. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 82.036, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 82.036. FOREIGN ATTORNEYS. (a) The supreme court |
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| 13 | 13 | | shall make such rules and regulations as to admitting attorneys |
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| 14 | 14 | | from other jurisdictions to practice law in this state as it shall |
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| 15 | 15 | | deem proper and just. All such attorneys shall be required to |
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| 16 | 16 | | furnish satisfactory proof as to good moral character. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) The rules adopted under this section must allow an |
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| 18 | 18 | | attorney licensed to practice law in another state of the United |
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| 19 | 19 | | States to be admitted to practice law in this state without |
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| 20 | 20 | | examination if the attorney: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) has been actively and substantially engaged in the |
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| 22 | 22 | | practice of law in the other jurisdiction for at least five of the |
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| 23 | 23 | | last seven years immediately preceding the date the attorney filed |
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| 24 | 24 | | the application for a license to practice law in this state, |
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| 25 | 25 | | regardless of whether the attorney previously failed a bar |
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| 26 | 26 | | examination in this state; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) is otherwise eligible for admission to practice |
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| 28 | 28 | | law without examination. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 30 | 30 | | of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt rules to implement |
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| 31 | 31 | | Section 82.036, Government Code, as amended by this Act. |
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| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3. Section 82.036, Government Code, as amended by |
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| 33 | 33 | | this Act, applies only to a person who files an application for |
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| 34 | 34 | | admission to the State Bar of Texas on or after September 1, 2019. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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