85R5750 GRM-D     By: Rodriguez of Bexar H.B. No. 958       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an interim study regarding the method by which certain   trial and appellate judges are selected.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  INTERIM COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The joint interim   committee on judicial selection is established to study and review   the method by which the following judges and justices are selected   for office in this state:                (1)  statutory county court judges, including probate   court judges;                (2)  district judges; and                (3)  appellate justices and judges.          (b)  The study must consider:                (1)  the fairness, effectiveness, and desirability of   selecting a judicial officer described in Subsection (a) of this   section through partisan elections;                (2)  the fairness, effectiveness, and desirability of   judicial selection methods proposed or adopted by other states; and                (3)  the relative merits of alternative methods for   selecting a judicial officer described in Subsection (a) of this   section, including:                      (A)  lifetime appointment;                      (B)  appointment for a term;                      (C)  appointment for a term, followed by a   partisan election;                      (D)  appointment for a term, followed by a   nonpartisan election;                      (E)  appointment for a term, followed by a   nonpartisan retention election;                      (F)  partisan election for an open seat, followed   by a nonpartisan retention election for incumbents; and                      (G)  any other method or combination of methods   for selecting a judicial officer described in Subsection (a) of   this section.          (c)  The joint interim committee shall be composed of six   senators and six members of the house of representatives as   follows:                (1)  the chair of the senate state affairs committee,   the chair of the senate criminal justice committee, and four   senators appointed by the lieutenant governor; and                (2)  the chair of the judiciary and civil jurisprudence   committee of the house of representatives, the chair of the   criminal jurisprudence committee of the house of representatives,   and four members of the house of representatives appointed by the   speaker of the house of representatives.          (d)  When making appointments under Subsection (c) of this   section, the lieutenant governor shall ensure that three senators   from the majority party of the senate are appointed to the committee   and three senators from the minority party of the senate are   appointed to the committee. When making appointments under   Subsection (c) of this section, the speaker of the house of   representatives shall ensure that three members from the majority   party of the house of representatives are appointed to the   committee and three members from the minority party of the house of   representatives are appointed to the committee.          (e)  The lieutenant governor and speaker of the house of   representatives shall each designate a co-chair from among the   committee members.          (f)  The joint interim committee shall convene at the call of   one of the co-chairs.          (g)  The joint interim committee has all other powers and   duties provided to a special or select committee by the rules of the   senate and house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301,   Government Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees   on administration.          (h)  Not later than January 6, 2019, the joint interim   committee shall report the committee's findings and   recommendations to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the   house of representatives, and the governor. The committee shall   include in its recommendations specific constitutional and   statutory changes that appear necessary from the results of the   committee's study.          (i)  From the contingent expense fund of the senate and the   contingent expense fund of the house of representatives equally,   the members of the joint interim committee shall be reimbursed for   expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this Act in   accordance with the senate and house of representatives rules of   procedure and the policies of the committees on administration.   Other necessary expenses of operation shall be paid from the   contingent expense fund of the senate and the contingent expense   fund of the house of representatives equally.          (j)  The Texas Legislative Council shall provide legal and   policy research, bill drafting, and statistical analysis services   to the committee created under this section.          SECTION 2.  ABOLITION OF COMMITTEE. The committee is   abolished and this Act expires January 12, 2019.          SECTION 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2017.