87R3448 SCL-F
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 173
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil liability for discriminatory false reports to law
  enforcement agencies or emergency service providers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 4, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 100B to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 100B. LIABILITY FOR DISCRIMINATION
         Sec. 100B.001.  LIABILITY FOR DISCRIMINATORY FALSE REPORTS
  TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND EMERGENCY SERVICE PROVIDERS. (a) A
  person who submits a false report to a law enforcement agency or
  emergency service provider, with the intent that the law
  enforcement agency or emergency service provider take action
  against a falsely accused person, is liable to the falsely accused
  person for an amount not to exceed $250 if the report was submitted
  due to bias or prejudice against the falsely accused person's race,
  color, disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age,
  gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
         (b)  If a falsely accused person prevails in an action
  brought under Subsection (a), the person may recover attorney's
  fees and costs incurred in bringing the action.
         SECTION 2.  Section 100B.001, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that
  accrues on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.