81R1561 DRH-D
 
  By: Aycock H.B. No. 361
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the civil liability of a political party on primary
  election day.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 161, Election Code, is amended by adding
  Section 161.011 to read as follows:
         Sec. 161.011.  LIABILITY OF POLITICAL PARTY ON PRIMARY
  ELECTION DAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a political
  party holding a primary election is immune from civil liability for
  any act or omission resulting in death, damage, or injury that
  occurs on:
               (1)  primary election day at:
                     (A)  a polling place used for voting; or
                     (B)  the site of a precinct convention; or
               (2)  runoff primary election day at a polling place
  used for voting.
         (b)  This section does not apply to an act or omission that is
  intentional, willfully negligent, or done with conscious
  indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others.
         (c)  A political party holding a primary election is liable
  to a person for death, damage, or injury to the person or his
  property proximately caused by any act or omission arising from the
  operation or use of any motor-driven equipment, including an
  airplane, to the extent insurance coverage is required by Chapter
  601, Transportation Code, and to the extent of any existing
  insurance coverage applicable to the act or omission.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to a cause of action that
  accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of
  action that accrues before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law applicable to the cause of action immediately
  before the effective date of this Act, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.