Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 152.056. PRESIDING OFFICER. The supreme court shall designate a member of the commission as presiding officer of the commission to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the supreme court. The presiding officer may designate a member of the commission to preside over a me…

Sec. 152.057. COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT. (a) A commission member may not receive compensation for service on the commission. (b) A commission member is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses and other actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing functions as a co…

Sec. 152.058. MEETINGS. (a) The commission shall meet at least once in each quarter of the fiscal year. (b) The commission may meet at other times at the call of the presiding officer or as provided by commission rules. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec.…

Sec. 152.059. PUBLIC TESTIMONY. The commission shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the commission and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the commission. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 4…

Sec. 152.101. RULES. The supreme court may adopt rules consistent with this subtitle, including rules governing the certification, registration, licensing, and conduct of persons regulated under this subtitle. The supreme court may authorize the commission to adopt rules as the s…

Sec. 152.102. RULES REGARDING ADVERTISING OR COMPETITIVE BIDDING. (a) Subject to any rules related to ethics or professional conduct promulgated by the supreme court, the supreme court may not adopt rules restricting advertising or competitive bidding by a holder of a certificati…

Sec. 152.103. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The commission is administratively attached to the office. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the office shall: (1) provide administrative assistance, services, and materials to the commission, including budget planning and purchasing;…

Sec. 152.104. DIRECTOR. The director shall: (1) perform any duty assigned by the commission and other duties specified by law; and (2) administer and enforce the commission's programs. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2014. Rede…

Sec. 152.105. DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES. The commission shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the commission and the management responsibilities of the director and the staff of the office. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg…

Sec. 152.106. USE OF TECHNOLOGY. The commission shall implement a policy requiring the commission to use appropriate technological solutions to improve the commission's ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the public is able to interact with the commissio…

Sec. 152.107. INFORMATION ON STANDARDS OF CONDUCT. The director or the director's designee shall provide to members of the commission and to office employees, as often as necessary, information regarding the requirements for service or employment under this subtitle, including in…

Sec. 152.108. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION. (a) The commission shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the commission under this subtitle and the procedure by which complaints are filed and resolved under this subtitle. (b) The commission shall mak…

Sec. 152.109. NOTICE OF COMPLAINT PROCESS. (a) The commission shall establish methods by which consumers are notified of the name, mailing address, and telephone number of the commission for the purpose of directing complaints about persons regulated under this subtitle to the co…

Sec. 152.110. RECORDS OF COMPLAINTS. (a) The commission shall maintain a file on each written complaint filed with the commission under this subtitle. The file must include: (1) the name of the person who filed the complaint; (2) the date the complaint is received by the commissi…

Sec. 152.111. COMPLAINT DISMISSAL. (a) The commission may adopt a policy allowing office employees to dismiss a complaint that: (1) clearly does not allege misconduct; (2) is not within the commission's jurisdiction; or (3) alleges misconduct that took place more than five years …

Sec. 152.112. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES. (a) The commission shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the commission's juri…

Sec. 152.151. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The commission shall: (1) administer and enforce this subtitle; (2) in consultation with appropriate advisory boards, develop and recommend rules to the supreme court; (3) in consultation with appropriate advisory boards, develop and r…

Sec. 152.152. ADVISORY BOARDS. (a) In addition to the advisory boards specifically established under this subtitle, the commission may establish other advisory boards to advise the commission on policy and persons regulated under this subtitle. (b) An advisory board established u…

Sec. 152.201. EXAMINATIONS. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date a person takes an examination, the commission shall notify the person of the results of the examination. (b) If the examination is graded or reviewed by a testing service: (1) the commission shall notify t…

Sec. 152.2015. CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, AND LICENSING FEE AND RENEWAL. (a) A person, firm, or business entity must pay the commission an initial fee and any other required fee to receive a certification, registration, or license from the commission. (b) A regulated person who…

Sec. 152.202. ENDORSEMENT; RECIPROCITY. (a) The commission may waive any prerequisite to obtaining a certification, registration, or license for an applicant after reviewing the applicant's credentials and determining that the applicant holds a certification, registration, or lic…

Sec. 152.203. RULES ON INELIGIBILITY. The supreme court shall by order adopt rules on an applicant's ineligibility for certification, registration, or licensing or renewal of certification, registration, or licensing under this subtitle based on the applicant's criminal history o…

Sec. 152.204. CONTINUING EDUCATION. (a) The supreme court may authorize and the commission by rule may require continuing professional education for persons regulated under this subtitle. (b) The rules for continuing professional education adopted by the commission may include st…

Sec. 152.205. CODE OF ETHICS. (a) The commission shall develop and recommend to the supreme court for adoption by rule a code of ethics for persons regulated under this subtitle. In developing the code of ethics, the commission may use the codes of ethics adopted by state or nati…

Sec. 153.0001. FILING COMPLAINT. (a) To file a complaint with the commission against a regulated person or another person alleged to have unlawfully engaged in conduct regulated under this subchapter, a person must: (1) have personal knowledge of the alleged violation; (2) comple…

Sec. 153.001. INVESTIGATIONS. The commission may conduct investigations as necessary to enforce the laws administered by the commission. Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 42 (S.B. 966), Sec. 1.01, eff. September 1, 2014. Redesignated from Government Code, Subtitle K, Title…

Sec. 153.002. SUBPOENAS. (a) The commission may issue a subpoena as provided by this section. (b) The commission may request and, if necessary, compel by subpoena: (1) the production for inspection and copying of records, documents, and other evidence relevant to the investigatio…

Sec. 153.003. CEASE AND DESIST ORDER. (a) The director may issue a temporary cease and desist order for the duration of an investigation and disciplinary action by the commission if the director determines that the action is necessary to prevent a violation of: (1) this subtitle;…

Sec. 153.004. DENIAL, REVOCATION, SUSPENSION, OR REFUSAL TO RENEW; REPRIMAND; PROBATION. (a) The commission may deny, revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew a certification, registration, or license or may reprimand a regulated person for a violation of this subtitle, a law establis…

Sec. 153.005. INJUNCTION. (a) The commission may apply to a district court in any county for an injunction to restrain a violation of this subtitle or a rule adopted under this subtitle by a person. (b) At the request of the commission, the attorney general shall initiate and con…

Sec. 153.051. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY. (a) The commission may impose an administrative penalty on a person who violates: (1) this subtitle; (2) a statute establishing a regulatory program administered by the commission; (3) a rule or standard adopted under this subtitle; or (4) an …

Sec. 153.052. AMOUNT OF PENALTY. (a) The amount of an administrative penalty may not exceed $500 for each violation, and each day a violation continues or occurs is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty. (b) The amount shall be based on: (1) the seriousness of t…

Sec. 153.053. REPORT AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION, PENALTY, AND SANCTION. (a) The commission shall appoint a committee of advisory board members to review a complaint, make the initial written determination on whether a violation occurred, and impose a penalty, a sanction, or both for…

Sec. 153.054. PENALTY PAID, SANCTION ACCEPTED, OR HEARING REQUESTED. (a) Not later than the 20th day after the date the person receives the notice sent under Section 153.053, the person in writing may: (1) accept the determination of the committee appointed under Section 153.053 …

Sec. 153.055. NOTICE; HEARING. (a) If the person requests a hearing, the commission shall give to the person written notice of the hearing that includes the time, place, legal authority, and jurisdiction under which the hearing is held and the laws and rules related to the violat…

Sec. 153.056. OPTIONS FOLLOWING DECISION: PAY, ACCEPT, OR APPEAL. Not later than the 30th day after the date the order of the commission imposing an administrative penalty or sanction under Section 153.055 becomes final, the person shall: (1) accept the obligation to pay the pena…

Sec. 153.057. COLLECTION OF PENALTY. (a) If the person does not pay the penalty and the enforcement of the penalty is not stayed in accordance with supreme court rules, the penalty may be collected. (b) The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty and may recover reasonabl…

Sec. 153.058. APPEAL OF DECISION. (a) The supreme court shall adopt rules governing appeals under this subchapter. (b) The rules must require the appeal to be made to a special committee consisting of three regional presiding judges. If the alleged violation involves a certified …

Sec. 153.059. REMITTANCE OF PENALTY AND INTEREST. (a) If the person paid the penalty and if the amount of the penalty is reduced or the penalty is not upheld by the special committee, the special committee shall order that the appropriate amount plus accrued interest be remitted …

Sec. 153.060. REISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE, REGISTRATION, OR LICENSE. (a) The commission may reissue a certificate, registration, or license that has been revoked or that the commissioner has refused to renew as a disciplinary sanction if the individual who was subject to the revoca…

Sec. 154.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Advisory board" means the Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board. (1-a) "Apprentice court reporter" means a person to whom an apprentice court reporter certification is issued as authorized by Section 154.1011. (2) "Certi…

Sec. 154.002. RULES. The supreme court may adopt rules consistent with this subtitle, including rules governing: (1) the certification and conduct of official and deputy court reporters and shorthand reporters; and (2) the registration and conduct of court reporting and shorthand…

Sec. 154.051. ORGANIZATION. (a) The Court Reporters Certification Advisory Board is established as an advisory board to the commission. The advisory board is composed of at least nine members appointed by the supreme court as follows: (1) one active district judge presiding over …

Sec. 154.052. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER TRAINING. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of the advisory board may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member in attendance at a meeting of the advisory board until the person completes a training pro…

Sec. 154.101. CERTIFICATION OF REPORTERS. (a) A person may not be appointed an official court reporter or a deputy court reporter unless the person is certified as a shorthand reporter by the supreme court. (b) A person may not engage in shorthand reporting in this state unless t…

Sec. 154.1011. APPRENTICE COURT REPORTER AND PROVISIONAL COURT REPORTER CERTIFICATIONS. (a) Subject to Section 152.101, the commission by rule may provide for: (1) the certification of an apprentice court reporter who may engage in court reporting only: (A) under the direct super…