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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibited restrictions on occupancy capacity for |
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places of worship. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 110.001(a), Civil Practice and Remedies |
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Code, is amended by adding Subdivisions (3) and (4) to read as |
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follows: |
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(3) "Place of worship" means a building or grounds |
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where religious activities are conducted. |
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(4) "Public official" means any elected or appointed |
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officer, employee, or agent of this state or of a governmental |
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agency or any other public body established by state law. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 110.0031 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 110.0031. PROHIBITION ON ORDERS RESTRICTING OCCUPANCY |
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CAPACITY FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP. (a) A government agency or public |
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official may not issue an order for purposes of a state of disaster |
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declared under Chapter 418, Government Code, that restricts the |
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occupancy capacity for or has the effect of restricting the |
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occupancy capacity for a place of worship in this state or in a |
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geographic area of this state. |
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(b) For purposes of a state of disaster declared under |
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Chapter 418, Government Code, this section is not considered a |
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regulatory statute and may not be suspended. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
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as amended by this Act, applies only to a claim or defense that |
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accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. A claim or |
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defense that accrued before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date |
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of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |