HBA-DMH S.B. 84 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 84 By: Shapiro Civil Practices 3/27/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, volunteer centers are not clearly included under the Charitable Immunity and Liability Act of 1987 (Act). Senate Bill 84 includes volunteer centers among other entities and organizations that are defined as charitable organizations and protected under the Act. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Senate Bill 84 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to include in the definition of "charitable organization," a volunteer center defined as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization whose primary purpose is to recruit and refer individual volunteers for other nonprofit groups in that area and that is certified as a bona fide volunteer center by the Department of Public Safety. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.