Bill Text: TX SB2048 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to a privilege from disclosure to governmental units for certain evidence concerning sermons delivered by a religious leader.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 11-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-26 - Placed on General State Calendar [SB2048 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB2048-Comm_Sub.html
By: Huffman, et al. | S.B. No. 2048 | |
(Cook, Harless, Geren, Oliveira, Kuempel) | ||
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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, 2015. |