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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an employer's civil liability under the Texas Workers' |
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Compensation Act for injuries sustained by certain victims of |
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sexual assault or abuse. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 408, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 408.0011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 408.0011. CIVIL ACTION FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED BY |
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CERTAIN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Developmental disability" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 112.042, Human Resources Code. |
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(2) "Intellectual disability" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 591.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(3) "Sexual abuse" means conduct described by Section |
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21.02 or 21.11, Penal Code. |
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(4) "Sexual assault" means conduct described by |
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Section 22.011 or 22.021, Penal Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Section 408.001, an employee who is the |
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victim of sexual assault or abuse may bring a cause of action |
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against the employer if: |
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(1) the employee is an individual with an intellectual |
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or developmental disability; and |
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(2) the employee's injuries arose from the employer's |
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negligence. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |