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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an attorney identification card for entrance into a |
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building that houses a court; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 75, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. ACCESS TO BUILDINGS THAT HOUSE COURTS |
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Sec. 75.601. STATE BAR MEMBERS. (a) To enter a building |
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that houses a justice court, municipal court, county court, county |
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court at law, or district court without passing through security |
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services, an attorney licensed to practice law in this state may |
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present the attorney's security services identification card |
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issued under Section 81.117 instead of an identification card |
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issued or authorized for issuance by a county or municipality. |
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(b) A county or municipality may not adopt or enforce an |
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order or ordinance that conflicts with Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 81, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 81.117 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.117. SECURITY SERVICES IDENTIFICATION CARD. (a) |
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The state bar in accordance with this section may issue to a member |
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of the state bar a security services identification card that |
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authorizes the member to enter a building that houses a court |
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without passing through security services as provided by Section |
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75.601. The identification card: |
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(1) may be in an electronic or a physical format; and |
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(2) must include a photograph of the member taken |
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within the five years preceding the date of the card's issuance. |
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(b) A member of the state bar may apply for issuance of a |
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security services identification card by submitting to the state |
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bar: |
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(1) an application on a form prescribed by the state |
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bar; |
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(2) a form prescribed by the state bar authorizing the |
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state bar to obtain criminal history record information on the |
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applicant; and |
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(3) a reasonable fee in the amount set by the state bar |
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to cover the costs of implementing this section, including the |
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portion of the fee to be remitted to a county in accordance with |
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Subsection (c). |
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(c) The state bar shall remit a portion of each fee |
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collected under this section in an amount not less than $50 as |
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prescribed by state bar rules to the county treasurer, or person |
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performing the functions of the county treasurer, of the county of |
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the applicant's primary practice location. The county may use |
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money the county receives under this subsection only for court |
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security purposes. |
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(d) The state bar shall adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules: |
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(1) on the collection and distribution of fees; |
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(2) for the approval, denial, and revocation of a |
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security services identification card; and |
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(3) to establish a committee to: |
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(A) review security services identification card |
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applications submitted by and criminal history record information |
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obtained concerning members of the state bar; and |
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(B) oversee: |
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(i) the collection and distribution of fees |
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in accordance with this section and rules adopted under this |
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section; and |
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(ii) the approval, denial, and revocation |
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of a security services identification card. |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.1005, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) The State Bar of Texas is entitled to obtain from the |
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department criminal history record information maintained by the |
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department that relates to a person who: |
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(1) is licensed by the state bar; and |
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(2) applies for issuance of a security services |
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identification card under Section 81.117. |
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SECTION 4. Section 291.010, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The commissioners court of a county may not adopt or |
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enforce an order that conflicts with Section 75.601, Government |
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Code. |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Bar of Texas shall adopt the rules, fees, |
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forms, and procedures necessary to implement this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |