Amend CSHB 19 (senate committee report) as follows:
(1) In SECTION 1 of the bill, strike added Sections 25A.002 and 25A.010, Government Code (page 2, lines 65 and 66, and page 7, lines 35 through 39), renumber subsequent sections of added Chapter 25A, Government Code, and update any cross-references to those sections accordingly.
(2) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 25A.008(a)(3), Government Code (page 6, lines 66 and 67), strike "appointed for at least five years before appointment" and substitute "elected for at least five years preceding the beginning of the judge's term".
(3) In SECTION 1 of the bill, strike added Section 25A.009, Government Code (page 7, lines 11 through 34), and substitute the following:
Sec. 25A.009. ELECTION AND TERMS OF JUDGES; PRESIDING JUDGE; EXCHANGE OF BENCHES. (a) The qualified voters in the geographic boundaries of each business court division shall elect a judge to serve for that division. The judge shall hold the office for a term of four years.
(b) Not later than the seventh day after the first day of a term, the business court judges by majority vote shall select a judge of the court to serve as administrative presiding judge for the duration of the term. If a vacancy occurs in the position of administrative presiding judge, the remaining business court judges shall select a judge of the court to serve as administrative presiding judge for the remainder of the unexpired term as soon as practicable.
(c) To promote the orderly and efficient administration of justice, the business court judges may exchange benches and sit and act for each other in any matter pending before the court.
(4) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 25A.017(c), Government Code (page 8, line 41), strike "appointed" and substitute "elected".
(5) In SECTION 1 of the bill, in added Section 25A.017(d), Government Code (page 8, line 47), strike "appointed" and substitute "elected".
(6) In SECTION 4 of the bill (page 10, line 25), strike "(a)".
(7) Strike Subsection (b) of SECTION 4 of the bill (page 10, lines 29 through 34).
(8) Strike SECTION 6 of the bill (page 10, lines 37 through 44) and renumber subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly.