82R1167 AJZ-F
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 166
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the civil liability of an employer or former employer of
  a mental health services provider who engages in sexual
  exploitation of a patient or former patient.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 81.003(a) and (b), Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An employer of a mental health services provider is
  liable to a patient or former patient of the mental health services
  provider for damages if the patient or former patient is injured as
  described by Section 81.002 and the employer:
               (1)  fails to make inquiries of an employer or former
  employer, whose name and address have been disclosed to the
  employer and who employed the mental health services provider as a
  mental health services provider within the five years before the
  date of disclosure, concerning the possible occurrence of sexual
  exploitation by the mental health services provider of patients or
  former patients of the mental health services provider; or
               (2)  knows or has reason to know that the mental health
  services provider engaged in [the] sexual exploitation of a [the]
  patient or former patient and the employer failed to:
                     (A)  report the suspected sexual exploitation as
  required by Section 81.006; or
                     (B)  take necessary action to prevent or stop the
  sexual exploitation by the mental health services provider.
         (b)  An employer or former employer of a mental health
  services provider is liable to a patient or former patient of the
  mental health services provider for damages if the patient or
  former patient is injured as described by Section 81.002 and the
  employer or former employer:
               (1)  knows of the occurrence of [the] sexual
  exploitation by the mental health services provider of a [the]
  patient or former patient;
               (2)  receives a specific request by an employer or
  prospective employer of the mental health services provider,
  engaged in the business of providing mental health services,
  concerning the possible existence or nature of sexual exploitation
  by the mental health services provider; and
               (3)  fails to disclose the occurrence of the sexual
  exploitation.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 in effect on the date the cause of
  action accrues, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.