S.B. No. 455

	AN ACT
	relating to special three-judge district courts convened to hear
	certain cases.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Government Code, is amended
	by adding Chapter 22A to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 22A.  SPECIAL THREE-JUDGE DISTRICT COURT
	Sec. 22A.001.  ELIGIBLE PROCEEDINGS. (a)  The attorney
	general may petition the chief justice of the supreme court to
	convene a special three-judge district court in any suit filed in a
	district court in this state in which this state or a state officer
	or agency is a defendant in a claim that:
	(1)  challenges the finances or operations of this
	state's public school system; or
	(2)  involves the apportionment of districts for the
	house of representatives, the senate, the State Board of Education,
	or the United States Congress, or state judicial districts.
	(b)  A petition filed by the attorney general under this
	section stays all proceedings in the district court in which the
	original case was filed until the chief justice of the supreme court
	acts on the petition.
	(c)  Within a reasonable time after receipt of a petition
	from the attorney general under Subsection (a), the chief justice
	of the supreme court shall grant the petition and issue an order
	transferring the case to a special three-judge district court
	convened as provided by Section 22A.002.
	Sec. 22A.002.  SPECIAL THREE-JUDGE DISTRICT COURT.  (a)  On
	receipt of a petition under Section 22A.001, the chief justice
	shall order a special three-judge district court to convene and
	shall appoint three persons to serve on the court as follows:
	(1)  the district judge of the judicial district to
	which the original case was assigned;
	(2)  one district judge of a judicial district other
	than a judicial district in the same county as the judicial district
	to which the original case was assigned; and
	(3)  one justice of a court of appeals other than:
	(A)  the court of appeals in the court of appeals
	district in which the original case was assigned; or
	(B)  a court of appeals district in which the
	district judge appointed under Subdivision (2) sits.
	(b)  A judge or justice appointed under Subsection (a)(2) or
	(3) must have been elected to that office and may not be serving an
	appointed term of office.
	(c)  A special three-judge district court convened under
	this section shall conduct all hearings in the district court to
	which the original case was assigned and may use the courtroom,
	other facilities, and administrative support of the district court.
	(d)  The Office of Court Administration of the Texas Judicial
	System shall pay the travel expenses and other incidental costs
	related to convening a special three-judge district court under
	this chapter.
	Sec. 22A.003.  CONSOLIDATION OF RELATED ACTIONS. (a)  In
	this section, "related case" means any case in which this state or a
	state officer or agency is a defendant that arises from the same
	nucleus of operative facts as the claim before a special
	three-judge district court under this chapter, regardless of the
	legal claims or causes of action asserted in the related case.
	(b)  On the motion of any party to a case assigned to a
	special three-judge district court under Section 22A.002, the court
	by order shall consolidate with the cause of action before the court
	any related case pending in any district court or other court in
	this state.
	(c)  A case consolidated under Subsection (b) must be
	transferred to the special three-judge district court if the court
	finds that transfer is necessary.  The transfer may occur without
	the consent of the parties to the related case or of the court in
	which the related case is pending.
	Sec. 22A.004.  APPLICATION OF TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL
	PROCEDURE. (a)  Except as provided by this section, the Texas
	Rules of Civil Procedure and all other statutes and rules
	applicable to civil litigation in a district court in this state
	apply to proceedings before a special three-judge district court.
	(b)  The supreme court may adopt rules for the operation of a
	special three-judge district court convened under this chapter and
	for the procedures of the court.
	Sec. 22A.005.  ACTIONS BY JUDGE OR JUSTICE. (a)  With the
	unanimous consent of the three judges sitting on a special
	three-judge district court, a judge or justice of the court may:
	(1)  independently conduct pretrial proceedings; and
	(2)  enter interlocutory orders before trial.
	(b)  A judge or justice of a special three-judge district
	court may not independently enter a temporary restraining order,
	temporary injunction, or any order that finally disposes of a claim
	before the court.
	(c)  Any independent action taken by one judge or justice of
	a special three-judge district court related to a claim before the
	court may be reviewed by the entire court at any time before final
	judgment.
	Sec. 22A.006.  APPEAL. (a)  An appeal from an appealable
	interlocutory order or final judgment of a special three-judge
	district court is to the supreme court.
	(b)  The supreme court may adopt rules for appeals from a
	special three-judge district court.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 455 passed the Senate on
	May 4, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 455 passed the House on
	May 19, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 95, Nays 50, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor