By: Vasut, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Middleton) H.B. No. 609
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 2023;
  April 26, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on State
  Affairs; May 5, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 3; May 5, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         HughesX
         PaxtonX
         BettencourtX
         BirdwellX
         LaMantiaX
         MenéndezX
         MiddletonX
         ParkerX
         PerryX
         SchwertnerX
         ZaffiriniX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the liability of a business owner or operator arising
  from the exposure of an individual to a pandemic disease.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 148.003, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended by adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:
         (k)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  business owner or operator that does not require employees or
  contractors of the business to be vaccinated against a pandemic
  disease is not liable for injury or death caused by the exposure of
  an individual to the pandemic disease through an employee or
  contractor of the business.
         SECTION 2.  Section 148.003(k), 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 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, 2023.
 
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