H.B. No. 1923
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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1923 was passed by the House on May
12, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1923 was passed by the Senate on May
27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor