Bill Text: TX SB109 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

Texas Senate Bill 109 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a limit on the number of terms a judge or justice may serve on a court in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-25 - Referred to State Affairs [SB109 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB109-Introduced.html

	85R1442 YDB-F

	By: Huffines	S.B. No. 109



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of a limit on the number of terms a
	judge or justice may serve on a court in this state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 22, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 22.021 to read as follows:
	Sec. 22.021. JUDICIAL TERM LIMITS. (a) The supreme court
	by rule, in consultation with the court of criminal appeals, shall
	establish a limit on the number of terms a judge or justice may be
	elected to serve as the judge or justice of a court established
	under the Texas Constitution, under state statutory law, or by
	municipal ordinance.
	(b) The term limits established in the rules adopted under
	Subsection (a) may not allow a judge or justice to serve as a judge
	or justice of any one court for more than 18 years.
	(c) The limit on the number of terms a judge or justice may
	serve as the judge or justice of a court as provided by Subsection
	(a) applies only to service on that court. A judge or justice may
	serve on more than one court for a number of terms that exceeds the
	limit, provided the number of terms on any one court does not exceed
	the limit established for service as a judge or justice on that
	court.
	(c-1) A term that begins before January 1, 2019, is not
	counted in determining whether a judge or justice is eligible to
	serve on a court under Section 32, Article V, Texas Constitution.
	This subsection expires February 1, 2039.
	(c-2) The supreme court shall establish the term limits as
	required by Subsection (a) not later than December 1, 2018. This
	subsection expires December 1, 2019.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 2018, but only
	if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 85th Legislature,
	Regular Session, 2017, limiting to two the number of terms for which
	a person may be elected or appointed to hold certain state offices
	and requiring the legislature to establish limits on the number of
	terms judges and justices may serve on courts in this state is
	approved by the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the
	voters, this Act has no effect.