88R6580 AMF-F
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 3926
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the liability of entities contracted with the
  Department of Family and Protective Services to provide
  community-based care.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 264.170, Family Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 264.170.  LIMITED LIABILITY FOR SINGLE SOURCE CONTINUUM
  CONTRACTOR OR OTHER ENTITY CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY-BASED
  CARE AND RELATED PERSONNEL. (a) A nonprofit entity that contracts
  with the department to provide community-based care or to provide
  community-based care services as a single source continuum
  contractor under this subchapter is considered to be a charitable
  organization for the purposes of Chapter 84, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, with respect to the provision of those services, and
  that chapter applies to the entity and any person who is an employee
  or volunteer of the entity.
         (b)  The limitations on liability provided by this section
  apply:
               (1)  only to an act or omission by the entity or person,
  as applicable, that occurs:
                     (A)  while the entity or person is acting within
  the course and scope of the entity's contract with the department;
  or
                     (B)  while the person is acting within the course
  and scope of [and] the person's duties for the entity; and
               (2)  only if insurance coverage in the minimum amounts
  required by Chapter 84, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is in
  force and effect at the time a cause of action for personal injury,
  death, or property damage accrues.
         (c)  An entity or person described by Subsection (a) may not
  be held liable for damages in excess of the amounts provided by
  Section 84.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, for a claim of
  negligence in the supervision or treatment of a child in the
  entity's custody or control unless the claimant establishes by
  clear and convincing evidence that the entity or person failed to
  comply with laws or rules regarding the supervision or treatment of
  children.
         (d)  An entity or person described by Subsection (a) may not
  be held liable for damages in excess of the amounts provided by
  Section 84.006, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, for a claim of
  negligence in the hiring, training, supervision, or retention of an
  employee or volunteer unless the claimant establishes by clear and
  convincing evidence that the entity or person failed to comply
  with:
               (1)  the terms of the entity's contract with the
  department; or
               (2)  laws or rules applicable to child-care facilities,
  as defined by Section 42.002, Human Resources Code.
         (e)  An entity described by Subsection (a) may not be held
  liable under a theory of vicarious liability for damages in excess
  of the amounts provided by Section 84.006, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, if the claim is based on an employee's or a
  volunteer's conduct that is intentional or done with conscious
  indifference or reckless disregard for the safety of others.
         SECTION 2.  Section 264.170, Family Code, as amended by this
  Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the
  effective date of this Act. A cause of action that accrued before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.