S.B. No. 1650

	AN ACT
	relating to appeals in cases arising under the Federal Arbitration
	Act.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 51, Civil Practice and
	Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 51.016 to read as
	follows:
	Sec. 51.016.  APPEAL ARISING UNDER FEDERAL ARBITRATION ACT.
	In a matter subject to the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. Section
	1 et seq.), a person may take an appeal or writ of error to the court
	of appeals from the judgment or interlocutory order of a district
	court, county court at law, or county court under the same
	circumstances that an appeal from a federal district court's order
	or decision would be permitted by 9 U.S.C. Section 16.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  Except as provided by this section, the
	change in law made by this Act applies to an action filed on or after
	the effective date of this Act or pending on the effective date of
	this Act.
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act does not apply to the
	appeal of an interlocutory order in an action pending on the
	effective date of this Act if the appeal of the order is initiated
	before the effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1650 passed the Senate on
	April 9, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1650 passed the House on
	May 27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 148, Nays 0, one
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor