Sec. 242.017.  ADMISSIBILITY OF CERTAIN EVIDENCE IN CIVIL ACTIONS.  (a)  The following are not admissible as evidence in a civil action:
(1)  any finding by the department that an institution has violated this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter;  or
(2)  the fact of the assessment of a penalty against an institution under this chapter or the payment of the penalty by an institution.
(b)  This section does not apply in an enforcement action in which the state or an agency or political subdivision of the state is a party.
(c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, evidence described by Subsection (a) is admissible as evidence in a civil action only if:
(1)  the evidence relates to a material violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter or assessment of a monetary penalty with respect to:
(A)  the particular incident and the particular individual whose personal injury is the basis of the claim being brought in the civil action;  or
(B)  a finding by the department that directly involves substantially similar conduct that occurred at the institution within a period of one year before the particular incident that is the basis of the claim being brought in the civil action;  and
(2)  the evidence of a material violation has been affirmed by the entry of a final adjudicated and unappealable order of the department after formal appeal;  and
(3)  the record is otherwise admissible under the Texas Rules of Evidence.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 16.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.