By: Vasut, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Middleton) H.B. No. 609
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2023;
April 26, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on State
Affairs; May 5, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 8, Nays 3; May 5, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
HughesX
PaxtonX
BettencourtX
BirdwellX
LaMantiaX
MenéndezX
MiddletonX
ParkerX
PerryX
SchwertnerX
ZaffiriniX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the liability of a business owner or operator arising
from the exposure of an individual to a pandemic disease.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 148.003, Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, is amended by adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
business owner or operator that does not require employees or
contractors of the business to be vaccinated against a pandemic
disease is not liable for injury or death caused by the exposure of
an individual to the pandemic disease through an employee or
contractor of the business.
SECTION 2. Section 148.003(k), Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that
accrues on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2023.
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