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Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code

§ 117.003 — CIVIL IMMUNITY FOR AND INDEMNIFICATION OF STATE OFFICIALS, EMPLOYEES, AND CONTRACTORS

CP § 117.003Title 5. GOVERNMENTAL LIABILITY · Ch. 117. LIABILITY FOR AND INDEMNIFICATION OF CERTAIN CLAIMS RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES INVOLVING ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THIS STATE

Statute text

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(a)Except as provided by Subsection (d), an elected or appointed state official or a state employee or contractor is immune from liability for damages arising from a cause of action under state law resulting from an action taken by the official, employee, or contractor to enforce Chapter 51, Penal Code, or an order issued under Article 5B.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, during the course and scope of the official's, employee's, or contractor's office, employment, or contractual performance for or service on behalf of the state.
(b)Except as provided by Subsection (d), the state shall indemnify an elected or appointed state official or a state employee or contractor for damages arising from a cause of action under federal law resulting from an action taken by the official, employee, or contractor to enforce Chapter 51, Penal Code, or an order issued under Article 5B.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, during the course and scope of the official's, employee's, or contractor's office, employment, or contractual performance for or service on behalf of the state.
(c)Notwithstanding any other law, an indemnification payment made under Subsection (b) is not subject to an indemnification limit under the laws of this state.
(d)Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply if the court or jury determines that the state official, employee, or contractor acted in bad faith, with conscious indifference, or with recklessness.
(e)The state shall indemnify a state official, employee, or contractor for reasonable attorney's fees incurred in defense of a criminal prosecution against the official, employee, or contractor for an action taken by the official, employee, or contractor to enforce Chapter 51, Penal Code, or an order issued under Article 5B.002, Code of Criminal Procedure, during the course and scope of the official's, employee's, or contractor's office, employment, or contractual performance for or service on behalf of the state.
(f)A state official, employee, or contractor who may be entitled to indemnification under Subsection (b) is entitled to representation by the attorney general, subject to Chapter 104, in an action in connection with which the official, employee, or contractor may be entitled to that indemnification.

Legislative history

Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., 4th C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 4), Sec. 3, eff. March 5, 2024.

Source: Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 117.003 from the Texas Constitution and Statutes (Texas Legislature) (public record). DecisionDepot is for informational use only and is not legal advice — verify against the official source before relying on this text.