By: Naishtat (Senate Sponsor - Rodríguez) H.B. No. 1923

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2015; May 13, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; May 22, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 22, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to qualifications of special judges.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 151.003, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 151.003. QUALIFICATIONS OF JUDGE. The special judge must be a retired or former district court, statutory county court, statutory probate court, or appellate court judge who:

(1) has served as a judge for at least four years in a district court, statutory county court, statutory probate court, or appellate court;

(2) has developed substantial experience in the judge's [his] area of specialty;

(3) has not been removed from office or resigned while under investigation for discipline or removal; and

(4) annually demonstrates completion [that he has completed] in the past calendar year of at least five days of continuing legal education in courses approved by the state bar or the supreme court.

SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a referral of a case to a special judge under Chapter 151, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, made on or after the effective date of this Act. A referral made before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the referral immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

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