By: Hughes S.B. No. 694
(In the Senate - Filed February 3, 2023; February 17, 2023,
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
April 4, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8,
Nays 2; April 4, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to liability of a religious organization or an employee or
volunteer of a religious organization for security services
provided to the organization.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 84, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
amended by adding Section 84.0067 to read as follows:
Sec. 84.0067. LIABILITY ARISING FROM PROVISION OF SECURITY
SERVICES TO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. (a) In this section:
(1) "Religious organization" means a charitable
organization that is a religious organization under Section
110.011(b).
(2) "Security personnel" means an individual:
(A) whom a religious organization hires to
provide security services to the organization as an employee; or
(B) who is a volunteer of a religious
organization whose duties or functions include providing security
services to the organization.
(b) A religious organization or security personnel of a
religious organization is immune from civil liability for any act
or omission by the security personnel resulting in death, damage,
or injury if the security personnel was acting in the course and
scope of the security personnel's employment or volunteer duties or
functions, as applicable, to provide security services to the
organization, including:
(1) notwithstanding Section 84.007(a), an intentional
act; and
(2) an act involving possession or use of a firearm.
SECTION 2. Section 84.0067, 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 September 1, 2023.
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