(a) This section applies only to public passenger rail services provided:
- (1) under an agreement between an authority created before January 1, 2005, and a railroad for the provision of public passenger rail services through the use of the railroad's facilities; and
(2) on freight rail lines and rail rights-of-way that are:
- (A) located in the Interstate 35W/Interstate 35 corridor; or
- (B) a northern extension of existing passenger rail service provided by the authority in the Interstate 35E corridor.
- (b) The aggregate liability of an authority and a railroad that enter into an agreement to provide public passenger rail services, and the governing boards, directors, officers, employees, and agents of the authority and railroad, may not exceed $125 million for all claims for damages arising from a single incident involving the provision of public passenger rail services under the agreement.
(c) Subsection (b) does not affect:
- (1) the amount of damages that may be recovered under Subchapter D, Chapter 112, or the federal Employers' Liability Act (45 U.S.C. Section 51 et seq.); or
- (2) any immunity, limitation on damages, limitation on actions, or other limitation of liability or protections applicable under other law to an authority or other provider of public passenger rail services.
- (d) The limitation of liability provided by this section does not apply to damages arising from the wilful misconduct or gross negligence of the railroad.
- (e) An authority shall obtain or cause to be obtained insurance coverage for the aggregate liability stated in Subsection (b) with the railroad as a named insured.
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 114 (S.B. 678), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.