By:  Harris, et al.                                    S.B. No. 488
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the recognition of a same-sex marriage or civil union.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Family Code, is amended
 1-5     by adding Section 1.109 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 1.109.  RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION.
 1-7     (a)  In this section, "civil union" means any relationship status
 1-8     that grants to the parties of the relationship the same legal
 1-9     protections, benefits, and responsibilities as are granted to the
1-10     spouses of a marriage.
1-11           (b)  The state may not give effect to a:
1-12                 (1)  public act, record, or judicial proceeding that
1-13     recognizes or validates a marriage or civil union between persons
1-14     of the same sex; or
1-15                 (2)  right or claim asserted as a result of the
1-16     purported marriage or civil union.
1-17           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-18     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-19     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-20     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-21     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.