| 1 | 1 | | 84R20775 CAE-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hunter, Clardy H.B. No. 1766 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1766: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: Thompson of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 1766 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to certain defenses to libel actions. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 73.005, Civil Practice and Remedies |
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| 12 | 12 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 73.005. TRUTH A DEFENSE. (a) The truth of the |
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| 14 | 14 | | statement in the publication on which an action for libel is based |
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| 15 | 15 | | is a defense to the action. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (b) In an action brought against a newspaper or other |
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| 17 | 17 | | periodical or broadcaster, the defense described by Subsection (a) |
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| 18 | 18 | | applies to an accurate reporting of allegations made by a third |
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| 19 | 19 | | party regarding a matter of public concern. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) This section does not abrogate or lessen any other |
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| 21 | 21 | | remedy, right, cause of action, defense, immunity, or privilege |
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| 22 | 22 | | available under the Constitution of the United States or this state |
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| 23 | 23 | | or as provided by any statute, case, or common law or rule. |
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| 24 | 24 | | SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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| 25 | 25 | | to accurate reporting by a newspaper or other periodical or |
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| 26 | 26 | | broadcaster made on or after the effective date of this Act. The |
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| 27 | 27 | | accurate reporting by a newspaper or other periodical or |
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| 28 | 28 | | broadcaster made before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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| 29 | 29 | | by the law applicable to the accurate reporting immediately before |
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| 30 | 30 | | that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 31 | 31 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 32 | 32 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 33 | 33 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 34 | 34 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 35 | 35 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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