Amend SB 1539 (senate committee report) as follows:

(1)  In Section 1 of the bill, strike the recital (page 1, lines 24 and 25) and substitute the following: "Section 233.014, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (c), (d), (f), and (h) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:"

(2)  In Section 1 of the bill, in amended Section 233.014, Election Code (page 1, between lines 36 and 37), insert the following:

(d)  The trial date may not be earlier than the 45th day after the date of the contested election except [nor later than the 180th day after the date of the contested election.     The trial date may be earlier than the 45th day after the date of the contested election] at the request of the contestant. The trial court must ensure the judgment of the court is not filed later than the 180th day after the date of the contested election.

(3)  In Section 1 of the bill, in amended Section 233.014, Election Code (page 1, between lines 41 and 42), insert the following:

(h)  If a contestant files an appeal of the contest, the appellate court must ensure that the action is brought to final disposition not later than the 60th [180th] day after the date the judgment becomes final.