Bill Text: TX SB24 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to a privilege from disclosure to governmental units for certain evidence concerning sermons delivered by a religious leader.
Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-19 - Effective immediately [SB24 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-SB24-Enrolled.html
| S.B. No. 24 | ||
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| relating to a privilege from disclosure to governmental units for | ||
| certain evidence concerning sermons delivered by a religious | ||
| leader. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Chapter 150A to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 150A. DISCOVERY BY GOVERNMENTAL UNIT | ||
| Sec. 150A.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
| (1) "Governmental unit" has the meaning assigned by | ||
| Section 101.001. | ||
| (2) "Religious organization" means an organization | ||
| that qualifies as a religious organization under Section 11.20, Tax | ||
| Code. | ||
| (3) "Religious worship" has the meaning assigned by | ||
| Section 11.20, Tax Code. | ||
| Sec. 150A.002. SERMONS PRIVILEGED FROM DISCLOSURE TO | ||
| GOVERNMENTAL UNIT. A governmental unit may not, in any civil action | ||
| or other civil or administrative proceeding to which the | ||
| governmental unit is a party, compel the production or disclosure | ||
| of a written copy or audio or video recording of a sermon delivered | ||
| by a religious leader during religious worship of a religious | ||
| organization or compel the religious leader to testify regarding | ||
| the sermon. | ||
| SECTION 2. 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, 2017. | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 24 passed the Senate on | ||
| March 8, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that S.B. No. 24 passed the House on | ||
| May 6, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 2, one present | ||
| not voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| Approved: | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
