Bill
Bill > HB4623
TX HB4623
Relating to liability of public schools and professional school employees for sexual misconduct involving students.
summary
Introduced
03/12/2025
03/12/2025
In Committee
05/26/2025
05/26/2025
Crossed Over
05/14/2025
05/14/2025
Passed
05/31/2025
05/31/2025
Dead
Introduced Session
89th Legislature Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT relating to liability of public schools and professional school employees for sexual misconduct involving students.
AI Summary
This bill creates a new legal framework for holding public schools and their professional employees liable for sexual misconduct or failure to report child abuse involving students. The bill defines "professional school employees" broadly, including superintendents, administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, supervisors, social workers, counselors, nurses, teacher's aides, contracted teachers, education program students, school bus drivers, school board members, and other certified employees. Under the new law, a public school can be held liable if it is found to be grossly negligent, reckless, or engaging in intentional misconduct when hiring, supervising, or employing a professional school employee who commits sexual misconduct or fails to report suspected child abuse. In such legal actions, the specific employee who committed the act must be named as a defendant. The bill caps damages at $500,000 per claimant and allows the prevailing party to recover court costs and attorney's fees. Importantly, the bill waives governmental immunity for public schools in these cases and abolishes official immunity for professional school employees, meaning they cannot use their official status as a defense. The new legal provisions will apply only to acts or omissions occurring on or after the bill's effective date of September 1, 2025, and are intended to provide additional legal remedies beyond existing laws.
Committee Categories
Education, Justice
Sponsors (64)
Harold Dutton (D)*,
Terri Leo-Wilson (R)*,
Mitch Little (R)*,
Angela Paxton (R)*,
Daniel Alders (R),
Carol Alvarado (D),
Jeffrey Barry (R),
Keith Bell (R),
Paul Bettencourt (R),
Greg Bonnen (R),
Brad Buckley (R),
Ben Bumgarner (R),
Angie Button (R),
Donna Campbell (R),
Giovanni Capriglione (R),
Brandon Creighton (R),
Mano DeAyala (R),
Josey Garcia (D),
Stan Gerdes (R),
Brent Hagenbuch (R),
Bob Hall (R),
Kelly Hancock (R),
Sam Harless (R),
Cody Harris (R),
Cole Hefner (R),
Hillary Hickland (R),
Adam Hinojosa (R),
Chuy Hinojosa (D),
Andy Hopper (R),
Joan Huffman (R),
Bryan Hughes (R),
Lacey Hull (R),
Todd Hunter (R),
Helen Kerwin (R),
Phil King (R),
Stan Kitzman (R),
Lois Kolkhorst (R),
Marc LaHood (R),
Brooks Landgraf (R),
Janie Lopez (R),
David Lowe (R),
Shelley Luther (R),
John McQueeney (R),
José Menéndez (D),
Will Metcalf (R),
Mayes Middleton (R),
Brent Money (R),
Tom Oliverson (R),
Tan Parker (R),
Jared Patterson (R),
Charles Perry (R),
Katrina Pierson (R),
Keresa Richardson (R),
Alan Schoolcraft (R),
Joanne Shofner (R),
Shelby Slawson (R),
Kevin Sparks (R),
Steve Toth (R),
Ellen Troxclair (R),
Cody Vasut (R),
Denise Villalobos (R),
Wesley Virdell (R),
Terry Wilson (R),
Judith Zaffirini (D),
Last Action
Sent to the Governor (on 06/02/2025)
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