S.B. No. 416
 
 
 
 
  relating to the composition of the board of directors of the State
  Bar of Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 81.020, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read
  as follows:
         (b)  The board is composed of:
               (1)  the officers of the state bar;
               (2)  the president, president-elect, and immediate
  past president of the Texas Young Lawyers Association;
               (3)  not more than 30 members of the state bar elected
  by the membership from their district as determined by the board;
               (4)  six persons appointed by the supreme court and
  confirmed by the senate who are not attorneys and who do not have,
  other than as consumers, a financial interest in the practice of
  law; and
               (5)  four at-large [minority member] directors
  appointed by the president as provided by Subsections [Subsection]
  (d) and (e).
         (d)  The president of the state bar appoints the at-large
  [minority member] directors, subject to confirmation by the board
  of directors. In making appointments under this subsection, the
  president shall [attempt to] appoint directors who demonstrate
  knowledge gained from experience in the legal profession and
  community necessary to ensure the board represents the interests of
  attorneys from the varied backgrounds that compose the membership
  of the state bar [members of the different minority groups listed in
  Section 81.002(7)].
         (e)  At-large [Minority member] directors serve three-year
  terms. To be eligible for appointment as an at-large [a minority
  member] director, at the time of appointment a person may [must:
               [(1)  be a minority member of the bar;
               [(2)]  not be serving as:
               (1)  an elected director [at the time of appointment];
  or
               (2)  an at-large [and
               [(3)  not be serving as a minority member] director [at
  the time of appointment].
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.002(7), Government Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 3.  Notwithstanding Section 81.020, Government
  Code, as amended by this Act, a minority member serving on the board
  of directors of the State Bar of Texas on the effective date of this
  Act continues to serve the term to which the director was appointed.  
  On expiration of the director's term, the president of the State Bar
  of Texas shall appoint an at-large director as required by Section
  81.020, Government Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 416 passed the Senate on
  April 19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1;
  May 25, 2017, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2017, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 28, 2017, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 31,
  Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 416 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 18, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142,
  Nays 4, two present not voting; May 26, 2017, House granted request
  of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 27, 2017, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 113, Nays 32, four present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor