| 5 | 3 | | |
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| 6 | 4 | | |
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| 7 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 7 | | relating to State Bar of Texas elections. |
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| 10 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 81.019, Government Code, is amended by |
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| 12 | 10 | | amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read |
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| 13 | 11 | | as follows: |
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| 14 | 12 | | (b) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and |
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| 15 | 13 | | (d), the officers shall be elected in accordance with rules for the |
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| 16 | 14 | | election of officers and directors prepared and proposed by the |
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| 17 | 15 | | supreme court as provided by Section 81.024. |
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| 18 | 16 | | (c) The election rules must permit any member's name to be |
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| 19 | 17 | | printed on the ballot as a candidate for president-elect if a |
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| 20 | | - | written petition requesting that action and signed by at least one |
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| 21 | | - | [five] percent of the membership of the state bar is filed with the |
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| 22 | | - | executive director at least 30 days before the election ballots are |
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| 23 | | - | to be distributed to the membership. |
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| 18 | + | written petition requesting that action and signed by at least 500 |
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| 19 | + | active members [five percent of the membership] of the state bar is |
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| 20 | + | filed with the executive director at least 30 days before the |
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| 21 | + | election ballots are to be distributed to the membership. |
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| 26 | | - | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 27 | | - | of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt any rules necessary |
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| 24 | + | SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Government Code, is |
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| 25 | + | amended by adding Section 81.0243 to read as follows: |
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| 26 | + | Sec. 81.0243. VOTING DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED; INJUNCTIVE |
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| 27 | + | RELIEF. (a) Voting discrimination based on religion, age, sex, |
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| 28 | + | race, color, creed, or national origin is prohibited in any form by |
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| 29 | + | members of the state bar in elections under this chapter. |
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| 30 | + | (b) A person may bring an action for injunctive relief |
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| 31 | + | against a member of the state bar who appears to be violating or is |
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| 32 | + | threatening to violate Subsection (a). Venue for the action is a |
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| 33 | + | district court in Travis County. The person may recover reasonable |
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| 34 | + | expenses incurred in obtaining injunctive relief, including court |
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| 35 | + | costs and attorney's fees. |
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| 36 | + | SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 37 | + | of this Act, the Texas Supreme Court shall adopt the rules necessary |
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