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AN ACT
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relating to civil liability of shareholders and members of certain |
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legal entities that engage in the trafficking of persons. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 98, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 98.0025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 98.0025. SHAREHOLDER AND MEMBER LIABILITY. (a) This |
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section applies to a legal entity governed by Title 2, 3, or 7, |
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Business Organizations Code. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Business |
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Organizations Code, if a legal entity described by Subsection (a) |
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is liable under Section 98.002, a shareholder or member of that |
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entity is jointly and severally liable with the entity to the person |
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trafficked for damages arising from the trafficking of that person |
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if the person demonstrates that the shareholder or member caused |
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the entity to be used for the purpose of trafficking that person and |
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did traffic that person for the direct personal benefit of the |
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shareholder or member. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the effective date |
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of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before |
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that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 968 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 3, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 968 was passed by the Senate on May |
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20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |