Amend Committee Substitute for HB 587 by striking line 27 on page 4 through line 26 on page 8, by substituting Article 3 to read as follows: SECTION 3.01. Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Chapter 140 to read as follows: CHAPTER 140. REMEDIES FOR AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST HATEFUL ACTS Sec. 140.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "Claimant" means a party seeking the relief provided by this chapter, including a plaintiff, counterclaimant, cross-claimant, or third-party plaintiff. (2) "Defendant" includes any party from whom a claimant seeks relief under this chapter. Sec. 140.002. RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM HATEFUL ACTS. (a) A person in this state has the right to be free from an act of violence committed against the person or the person's property because of the person's race, color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, or sexual preference. Sec 140.003. ACTION BY PERSON. (a) A person whose exercise or enjoyment of the right secured by Section 140.002 is intentionally violated by another person may commence in the person's own name an action for: (1) damages to the person arising from the intentional actions of the defendant in violating the exercise or enjoyment by the person or the right secured by Section 140.002; (2) exemplary damages as provided by Chapter 41; and (3) injunctive relief or any other appropriate relief to protect the exercise or enjoyment of the right secured by Section 140.002. (b) A court shall award a party who prevails in an action under this section reasonable attorney's fees in bringing or defending the action. Sec. 140.004. INDEPENDENT REMEDY. An action under this chapter is independent of any other remedy or procedure that may be available to the claimant. SECTION 3.02. Chapter 140, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, as added by this article, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. An action that accrued before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the action immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.