By: Hughes  S.B. No. 694
         (In the Senate - Filed February 3, 2023; February 17, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  April 4, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8,
  Nays 2; April 4, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to liability of a religious organization or an employee or
  volunteer of a religious organization for security services
  provided to the organization.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 84, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Section 84.0067 to read as follows:
         Sec. 84.0067.  LIABILITY ARISING FROM PROVISION OF SECURITY
  SERVICES TO RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Religious organization" means a charitable
  organization that is a religious organization under Section
  110.011(b).
               (2)  "Security personnel" means an individual:
                     (A)  whom a religious organization hires to
  provide security services to the organization as an employee; or
                     (B)  who is a volunteer of a religious
  organization whose duties or functions include providing security
  services to the organization.
         (b)  A religious organization or security personnel of a
  religious organization is immune from civil liability for any act
  or omission by the security personnel resulting in death, damage,
  or injury if the security personnel was acting in the course and
  scope of the security personnel's employment or volunteer duties or
  functions, as applicable, to provide security services to the
  organization, including:
               (1)  notwithstanding Section 84.007(a), an intentional
  act; and
               (2)  an act involving possession or use of a firearm.
         SECTION 2.  Section 84.0067, 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, 2023.
 
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