87R8437 ADM-D
 
  By: Bettencourt, et al. S.B. No. 1110
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to emergency review of election law violations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter E, Chapter 273,
  Election Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. INJUNCTION; EMERGENCY REVIEW
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 273, Election Code, is
  amended by adding Section 273.082 to read as follows:
         Sec. 273.082.  EMERGENCY REVIEW OF ELECTION ACTIVITY. (a)  
  Not later than the 60th day before the date of a regular or special
  election, the presiding judge of each administrative judicial
  region shall appoint not fewer than three retired judges to serve as
  emergency election review judges to preside in actions under this
  section.
         (b)  An action filed within 45 days of an election by a
  candidate in the election or a state or county chair of a political
  party that has a candidate in the election, that alleges a violation
  of this code in that election and requests emergency injunctive
  relief to prevent the alleged violation from continuing, shall be
  assigned to an emergency election review judge. 
         (c)  A judge appointed to serve as an emergency election
  review judge shall receive training as specified by the secretary
  of state at least once a year.
         (d)  A request for hearing in an action heard by an emergency
  election review judge shall be delivered to the assigned judge, who
  shall promptly conduct a hearing, by electronic means or otherwise,
  to begin no later than one hour after the judge receives a written
  hearing request.
         (e)  A hearing conducted by an emergency election review
  judge shall be recorded or transcribed and is subject to appellate
  review.
         (f)  A request for hearing in an action heard by an emergency
  election review judge shall be delivered to the assigned judge, who
  shall promptly conduct a hearing to begin no later than:
               (1)  three hours after the judge receives a written
  hearing request filed not earlier than the 45th day before the date
  of the election and not later than the last day before election day;
  or
               (2)  one hour after the judge receives a written
  hearing request filed on election day.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.