88R6755 YDB-D
 
  By: Bucy H.B. No. 1467
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to drug testing and prescription drug policies and certain
  legal protections for employees and independent contractors of
  state agencies and political subdivisions and for other persons
  regarding the medical use of low-THC cannabis and hemp.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 620 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 620. DRUG TESTING AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG POLICIES
         Sec. 620.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Drug test" means a technical analysis of an
  individual's biological specimen to determine the presence or
  absence of specified drugs or metabolites.
               (2)  "Hemp" has the meaning assigned by Section
  121.001, Agriculture Code.
               (3)  "Low-THC cannabis" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 169.001, Occupations Code.
         Sec. 620.002.  EXCEPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to:
               (1)  an employee of a state agency or political
  subdivision of this state who is required to comply with United
  States Department of Transportation drug testing regulations in
  accordance with 49 C.F.R. Part 40; or
               (2)  a peace officer described by Article 2.12, Code of
  Criminal Procedure, who is elected, employed, or appointed as a
  peace officer by a state agency or a political subdivision of this
  state.
         Sec. 620.003.  PROHIBITED DRUG TESTING AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
  POLICIES. A state agency or a political subdivision of this state
  may not:
               (1)  establish a drug testing policy that requires an
  employee or independent contractor of the agency or political
  subdivision as a condition of employment or contract to submit to a
  drug test the intent of which is to screen for the presence of
  cannabinoids;
               (2)  as a condition of employment or contract with the
  agency or political subdivision, administer or require the
  administration of a drug test to the employee or contractor the
  intent of which is to screen for the presence of cannabinoids;
               (3)  establish for the employee or contractor as a
  condition of employment or contract a test result that is negative
  for the presence of cannabinoids; or
               (4)  prohibit an employee or contractor as a condition
  of employment or contract from:
                     (A)  prescribing or obtaining a prescription for
  low-THC cannabis or using low-THC cannabis in accordance with
  Chapter 169, Occupations Code; or
                     (B)  using a consumable hemp product.
         Sec. 620.004.  MEDICAL PRIVACY. A state agency or a
  political subdivision of this state may not question an employee
  about the employee's use of low-THC cannabis or hemp and shall
  comply with all relevant state and federal privacy laws, including
  Chapter 181, Health and Safety Code, and the Health Insurance
  Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-191)
  and regulations adopted under that Act.
         Sec. 620.005.  RELIEF AVAILABLE. (a) A person may assert an
  actual or threatened violation of Section 620.003 or 620.004 as a
  claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding and
  obtain:
               (1)  compensatory damages;
               (2)  injunctive relief;
               (3)  declaratory relief; and
               (4)  other appropriate relief, including reasonable
  attorney's fees.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person may commence an
  action under this section and relief may be granted regardless of
  whether the person sought or exhausted available administrative
  remedies.
         Sec. 620.006.  IMMUNITY WAIVED. A person who alleges a
  violation of Section 620.003 or 620.004 may sue the state agency or
  political subdivision for the relief provided under Section
  620.005. Sovereign or governmental immunity, as applicable, is
  waived and abolished to the extent of liability for that relief.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 487, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter A-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER A-1. PROTECTIONS RELATED TO MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS
         Sec. 487.021.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "authorized
  medical use" means a medical use of a substance that is authorized
  under:
               (1)  this chapter;
               (2)  Subchapter G, Chapter 481; 
               (3)  Chapter 169, Occupations Code; or
               (4)  department rule.
         Sec. 487.022.  APPLICABILITY. The protections provided by
  this subchapter apply to a person who is:
               (1)  a patient for whom authorized medical use is
  prescribed under Chapter 169, Occupations Code, or the parent or
  caregiver of the patient;
               (2)  a dispensing organization; or
               (3)  a director, manager, or employee of a dispensing
  organization who is registered with the department under Section
  487.053.
         Sec. 487.023.  PROTECTION FROM LEGAL ACTION.
  Notwithstanding any other law, a person described by Section
  487.022 is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or penalty in any
  manner, or denial of any right or privilege, including any
  administrative or civil penalty or disciplinary action imposed by a
  court or state licensing board, for conduct involving authorized
  medical use. 
         Sec. 487.024.  PROHIBITED PRESUMPTION OF CHILD ABUSE,
  NEGLECT, OR ENDANGERMENT. A person described by Section 487.022
  may not be presumed to have engaged in conduct constituting child
  abuse, neglect, or endangerment solely because the person engaged
  in conduct involving authorized medical use.
         Sec. 487.025.  PROHIBITED DENIAL OF PARENTAL RIGHTS. The
  fact that a person described by Section 487.022 engages in conduct
  involving authorized medical use does not in itself constitute
  grounds for denying, limiting, or restricting conservatorship or
  possession of or access to a child under Title 5, Family Code.
         Sec. 487.026.  PROHIBITED SEIZURE OR FORFEITURE. Property
  used in the cultivation, research, testing, processing,
  distribution, transportation, and delivery of low-THC cannabis for
  authorized medical use is not contraband for purposes of Chapter
  59, Code of Criminal Procedure, and is not subject to seizure or
  forfeiture under that chapter or other law solely for the use of the
  property for the authorized activities.
         Sec. 487.027.  PROHIBITED PROSECUTION FOR PROVISION OF
  PARAPHERNALIA. A person is not subject to arrest, prosecution, or
  the imposition of any sentence or penalty for the delivery,
  possession with intent to deliver, or manufacture of any item that
  meets the definition of drug paraphernalia, as defined by Section
  481.002, if that item is delivered, possessed with intent to
  deliver, or manufactured for the sole purpose of providing that
  item to:
               (1)  a person for whom authorized medical use is
  prescribed under Chapter 169, Occupations Code; or
               (2)  a licensed dispensing organization.
         Sec. 487.028.  PROHIBITED DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST
  STUDENTS AND SCHOOL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. (a)
  Notwithstanding any other law, a student for whom low-THC cannabis
  is prescribed under Chapter 169, Occupations Code, may not be
  subject to suspension, expulsion, placement in a disciplinary
  alternative education program, or any other form of discipline
  solely because the student possessed, used, or was prescribed
  low-THC cannabis.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a school health care
  professional assisting a student described by Subsection (a) in the
  administration of low-THC cannabis may not be subject to any
  disciplinary action solely because of the assistance.
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  the administration of a drug testing or prescription drug policy or
  a drug test on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.