| 1 | 1 | | 89R9201 AMF-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Paxton S.B. No. 835 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to the enforceability of certain nondisclosure or |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | confidentiality provisions with respect to an act of sexual abuse |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | committed against a child. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | SECTION 1. Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | amended by adding Chapter 129C to read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | CHAPTER 129C. AGREEMENTS PROHIBITING DISCLOSURES REGARDING CHILD |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | SEXUAL ABUSE |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | Sec. 129C.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "act of sexual |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | abuse" means conduct described by: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (1) Section 261.001(1)(E), (F), (G), (H), (K), or (L), |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | Family Code; or |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (2) one or more of the following penal laws: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (A) indecency with a child under Section 21.11, |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | Penal Code; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (B) sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | Code; |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (C) aggravated sexual assault under Section |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | 22.021, Penal Code; |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | (D) sexual performance by a child under Section |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | 43.25, Penal Code; |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (E) trafficking of persons under Section |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | 20A.02(a)(3), (4), (7), or (8), Penal Code; and |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (F) compelling prostitution under Section 43.05, |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Penal Code. |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 129C.002. CERTAIN PROVISIONS UNENFORCEABLE. Any |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | provision of a nondisclosure or confidentiality agreement, or |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | nondisclosure or confidentiality provision of an employment |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | agreement, settlement agreement, or any other agreement is void and |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | unenforceable as against the public policy of this state to the |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | extent the provision: |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | (1) prohibits a party from notifying, or limits the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | party's ability to notify, a local or state law enforcement agency |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | or any state or federal regulatory agency of any act of sexual abuse |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | committed against a child; or |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (2) prohibits a party from disclosing to any person, |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | including during any related investigation, prosecution, legal |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | proceeding, or dispute resolution, facts surrounding any act of |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | sexual abuse committed against a child, including the identity of |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | the alleged offender. |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to an |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | agreement entered into before, on, or after the effective date of |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | this Act. |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|