H.B. No. 639         AN ACT   relating to authorizing the purchase of certain insurance coverage   by public schools for the benefit of businesses and students   participating in career and technology programs and providing for   immunity from liability of certain public school students   participating in career and technology programs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Sections 29.191 and 29.192 to read as follows:          Sec. 29.191.  ACCIDENT, LIABILITY, AND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE   COVERAGE. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the   governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may obtain   accident, liability, or automobile insurance coverage to protect:                (1)  a business or entity that participates with the   district or school to provide district or school students a career   and technology program; and                (2)  a district or school student who participates in a   district or school career and technology program.          (b)  The coverage authorized by this section must be:                (1)  obtained from a reliable insurer authorized to   engage in business in this state; or                (2)  for a district, provided through the district's   self-funded risk pool.          (c)  The amount of coverage a district or school obtains:                (1)  must be reasonable considering the financial   condition of the district or school; and                (2)  may not exceed the amount that is reasonably   necessary in the opinion of, as applicable, the board of trustees of   the district or the governing body of the school.          (d)  If the board of trustees of a district or the governing   body of a school obtains accident, liability, or automobile   insurance coverage under this section, an administrator designated   by the board of trustees of the district or governing body of the   school, as applicable, shall notify the parent or guardian of each   student participating in the career and technology program.          (e)  A district or school may not directly or indirectly   charge a student or the student's parent or guardian for the cost of   providing to the student insurance under this section.          (f)  The failure of any board of trustees of a district or the   governing body of a school to obtain coverage authorized by this   section or to obtain a specific amount of coverage under this   section may not be construed as placing any legal liability on, as   applicable, the district or the district's officers, agents, or   employees or the school or the school's officers, agents, or   employees.          Sec. 29.192.  IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. A student who   participates in a career and technology program approved by a   school district or an open-enrollment charter school is entitled to   immunity in the same manner provided under Section 22.053 as a   volunteer who is serving as a direct service volunteer of a district   or school.          SECTION 2.  Section 29.187(f), Education Code, is repealed.          SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018   school year.          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, 2017.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 639 was passed by the House on May 6,   2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 0, 3 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 639 was passed by the Senate on May   19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor