Sec. 74.163.  OPERATION;  RULES.  (a)  The judicial panel on multidistrict litigation must operate according to rules of practice and procedure adopted by the supreme court under Section 74.024.  The rules adopted by the supreme court must:
(1)  allow the panel to transfer related civil actions for consolidated or coordinated pretrial proceedings;
(2)  allow transfer of civil actions only on the panel's written finding that transfer is for the convenience of the parties and witnesses and will promote the just and efficient conduct of the actions;
(3)  require the remand of transferred actions to the transferor court for trial on the merits;  and
(4)  provide for appellate review of certain or all panel orders by extraordinary writ.
(b)  The panel may prescribe additional rules for the conduct of its business not inconsistent with the law or rules adopted by the supreme court.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 3.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.