85R2108 MM-D     By: Johnson of Dallas H.B. No. 220       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a person's eligibility to take the state's bar   examination and to supreme court approval of law schools for the   purpose of establishing eligibility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 82.024, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 82.024.  LAW STUDY REQUIREMENTS; ELIGIBILITY FOR   EXAMINATION. (a) A person who has completed the prescribed study   in an approved law school has satisfied the law study requirements   for taking the examination for a license to practice law and is   eligible to take the bar examination.          (b)  An approved law school is one that is approved by the   supreme court under Section 82.025 or other law for the [time]   period designated by the court as maintaining the additional   standards to retain approval.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 82, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 82.0242 to read as follows:          Sec. 82.0242.  LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES; ELIGIBILITY FOR   EXAMINATION. (a) Notwithstanding Section 82.0241, a person who   graduates from a law school at an institution of higher education,   as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, is eligible to take   the state's bar examination regardless of whether the person has   completed law study in an approved law school as required by Section   82.024 if the person satisfies all other requirements to be   eligible to take the examination.          (b)  The same procedures and deadlines apply to a person   eligible to take the state's bar examination under this section as   apply to a person who has completed the law study requirements in   Section 82.024.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 82, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 82.025 to read as follows:          Sec. 82.025.  LAW SCHOOL APPROVAL. The supreme court shall   adopt rules and procedures for a law school to become an approved   law school for purposes of Section 82.024. Rules and procedures   adopted under this section must provide for the supreme court's   approval of a law school at an institution of higher education, as   defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, regardless of whether   the law school is approved by the American Bar Association.          SECTION 4.  Not later than September 1, 2018, the Supreme   Court of Texas shall adopt rules and procedures necessary to   implement Section 82.025, Government Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 5.  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.