1-1 By: Harris, et al. S.B. No. 488 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 31, 2001; February 1, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 1-4 May 2, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, 1-5 Nays 1; May 2, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the recognition of a same-sex marriage or civil union. 1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-10 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 1, Family Code, is amended 1-11 by adding Section 1.109 to read as follows: 1-12 Sec. 1.109. RECOGNITION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OR CIVIL UNION. 1-13 (a) In this section, "civil union" means any relationship status 1-14 that grants to the parties of the relationship the same legal 1-15 protections, benefits, and responsibilities as are granted to the 1-16 spouses of a marriage. 1-17 (b) The state may not give effect to a: 1-18 (1) public act, record, or judicial proceeding that 1-19 recognizes or validates a marriage or civil union between persons 1-20 of the same sex; or 1-21 (2) right or claim asserted as a result of the 1-22 purported marriage or civil union. 1-23 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-24 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-25 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-26 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-27 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-28 * * * * *