TEXAS PROPERTY CODE

TITLE 8. LANDLORD AND TENANT

CHAPTER 92. RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS


	§ 92.015. TENANT'S RIGHT TO SUMMON POLICE OR EMERGENCY 
ASSISTANCE.  (a) A landlord may not:
		(1)  prohibit or limit a residential tenant's right to 
summon police or other emergency assistance in response to family 
violence;  or
		(2)  impose monetary or other penalties on a tenant who 
summons police or emergency assistance in response to family 
violence.
	(b)  A provision in a lease is void if the provision purports 
to:            
		(1)  waive a tenant's right to summon police or other 
emergency assistance in response to family violence;  or
		(2)  exempt any party from a liability or a duty under 
this section.        
	(c)  In addition to other remedies provided by law, if a 
landlord violates this section, a tenant is entitled to recover 
from or against the landlord:
		(1)  a civil penalty in an amount equal to one month's 
rent;                
		(2)  actual damages suffered by the tenant as a result 
of the landlord's violation of this section;
		(3)  court costs;                                                             
		(4)  injunctive relief;  and                                                  
		(5)  reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the tenant 
in seeking enforcement of this section.
	(d)  For purposes of this section, if a tenant's rent is 
subsidized in whole or in part by a governmental entity, "one 
month's rent" means one month's fair market rent.
	(e)  For purposes of this section, "family violence" has the 
meaning assigned by Section 71.004, Family Code.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 794, § 1, eff. June 20, 2003.