H.B. No. 3163
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to civil suits filed against board members of a
  groundwater conservation district and the liability of a member for
  certain actions taken by the board.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 36.060, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  For liability purposes only, a director is considered a
  district employee under Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, even if the director does not receive fees of office
  voluntarily, by district policy, or through a statutory exception
  to this section. 
         SECTION 2.  Section 36.066(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A district may sue and be sued in the courts of this
  state in the name of the district by and through its board. A
  district board member is immune from suit and immune from liability
  for official votes and official actions. To the extent an official
  vote or official action conforms to laws relating to conflicts of
  interest, abuse of office, or constitutional obligations, this
  subsection provides immunity for those actions. All courts shall
  take judicial notice of the creation of the district and of its
  boundaries.
         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, 2015.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3163 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 119, Nays 5, 2 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 3163 on May 29, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 4,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3163 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor