83R10693 KSD-D
 
  By: Clardy, Bell H.B. No. 2751
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the liability of individuals providing labor or
  assistance to the Texas Forest Service in the performance of
  certain fire suppression duties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 88.104, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 88.104.  AUTHORITY TO ENTER PRIVATE LAND. (a)
  Authority is hereby granted to every employee of the Texas Forest
  Service and any outside labor or assistance the employee deems
  necessary to enter upon any privately-owned land in the performance
  of fire suppression duties which are by state law under the
  direction of the director. These entries on privately-owned land
  may be made whenever it is necessary to investigate forest and grass
  fires and to ascertain whether they are burning uncontrolled, and
  whenever it is necessary to suppress forest and grass fires that are
  known to be burning uncontrolled.
         (b)  An individual providing labor or assistance to the Texas
  Forest Service under Subsection (a) is not liable for civil
  damages, including personal injury, wrongful death, property
  damage, death, or other loss resulting from any act, error, or
  omission by the individual in providing that labor or assistance
  unless the act, error, or omission:
               (1)  proximately caused the loss; and
               (2)  was performed with malice or constitutes gross
  negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
         SECTION 2.  Section 88.104(b), Education Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an act, error, or omission that occurs on
  or after the effective date of this Act.
         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, 2013.