Bill Text: TX HB3120 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to limiting the liability of certain transportation authorities and railroads for certain incidents involving the provision of public passenger rail services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-09 - Left pending in committee [HB3120 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB3120-Introduced.html
  83R5237 VOO-F
 
  By: Harper-Brown H.B. No. 3120
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to limiting the liability of certain transportation
  authorities and railroads for certain incidents involving the
  provision of public passenger rail services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 452, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 452.0601 to read as follows:
         Sec. 452.0601.  LIABILITY LIMITED FOR RAIL INCIDENTS. (a)
  The aggregate liability of an authority and a railroad that enter
  into an agreement to provide public passenger rail services, and
  the governing boards, directors, officers, employees, and agents of
  the authority and railroad, may not exceed $125 million for all
  claims for damages arising from a single incident involving the
  provision of public passenger rail services under the agreement.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not affect the amount of damages
  that may be recovered under Subchapter D, Chapter 112, or the
  Federal Employers' Liability Act (45 U.S.C. Section 51 et seq.).
         (c)  This section does not affect any immunity, limitation on
  damages, limitation on actions, or other limitation of liability or
  protection applicable under other law to an authority or other
  provider of public passenger rail services.
         (d)  The limitation of liability provided by this section
  does not apply to damages arising from the wilful misconduct or
  gross negligence of the railroad.
         (e)  The limitation of liability provided by this section
  applies to an incident involving the National Railroad Passenger
  Corporation using facilities of an authority under an agreement
  with the authority.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 460, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 460.1041 to read as follows:
         Sec. 460.1041.  LIABILITY LIMITED FOR RAIL INCIDENTS. (a)
  The aggregate liability of an authority and a railroad that enter
  into an agreement to provide public passenger rail services, and
  the governing boards, directors, officers, employees, and agents of
  the authority and railroad, may not exceed $125 million for all
  claims for damages arising from a single incident involving the
  provision of public passenger rail services under the agreement.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not affect the amount of damages
  that may be recovered under Subchapter D, Chapter 112, or the
  Federal Employers' Liability Act (45 U.S.C. Section 51 et seq.).
         (c)  This section does not affect any immunity, limitation on
  damages, limitation on actions, or other limitation of liability or
  protections applicable under other law to an authority or other
  provider of public passenger rail services.
         (d)  The limitation of liability provided by this section
  does not apply to damages arising from the wilful misconduct or
  gross negligence of the railroad.
         (e)  The limitation of liability provided by this section
  applies to an incident involving the National Railroad Passenger
  Corporation using facilities of an authority under an agreement
  with the authority.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
  this Act.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2013.
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