Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 561 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to expand the definition of "construction contract" to include a contract or agreement made or entered into by a registered architect or a licensed engineer. The bill establishes that a covenant or promise associated with a construction contract, other than a contract for a single-family or multifamily residence, is void and unenforceable if the covenant or promise provides for a registered architect or a licensed engineer whose work product is the subject of the construction contract to indemnify or hold harmless an owner or owner's agent or employee from liability for damage that is caused by or results from the negligence of an owner or an owner's agent or employee.

            The bill deletes a provision of the code that authorized a covenant or promise under which a registered engineer or architect agrees to indemnify or hold harmless a governmental agency or its agent or employees against liability arising from the personal injury or death of the architect or engineer or the employees of the architect or engineer.