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.