Sec. 1101.003. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter:

(1) "Acquisition closing date" means the date on which ownership of, or a direct or indirect majority interest in the ownership of, a regulated facility or operation is acquired in an asset purchase, equity purchase, merger, or similar transaction.

(2) "Audit report" means an audit report described by Section 1101.051.

(3) "Environmental or health and safety audit" or "audit" means a systematic voluntary evaluation, review, or assessment of compliance with environmental or health and safety laws or with any permit issued under an environmental or health and safety law conducted by an owner or operator, an employee of an owner or operator, a person, including an employee or independent contractor of the person, that is considering the acquisition of a regulated facility or operation, or an independent contractor of:

(A) a regulated facility or operation; or

(B) an activity at a regulated facility or operation.

(4) "Environmental or health and safety law" means:

(A) a federal or state environmental or occupational health and safety law; or

(B) a rule, regulation, or regional or local law adopted in conjunction with a law described by Paragraph (A).

(5) "Owner or operator" means a person who owns or operates a regulated facility or operation.

(6) "Penalty" means an administrative, civil, or criminal sanction imposed by the state to punish a person for a violation of a statute or rule. The term does not include a technical or remedial provision ordered by a regulatory authority.

(7) "Regulated facility or operation" means a facility or operation that is regulated under an environmental or health and safety law.

(b) A person acts intentionally for purposes of this chapter if the person acts intentionally within the meaning of Section 6.03, Penal Code.

(c) For purposes of this chapter, a person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the nature of the person's conduct when the person is aware of the person's physical acts. A person acts knowingly, or with knowledge, with respect to the result of the person's conduct when the person is aware that the conduct will cause the result.

(d) A person acts recklessly or is reckless for purposes of this chapter if the person acts recklessly or is reckless within the meaning of Section 6.03, Penal Code.

(e) To fully implement the privilege established by this chapter, the term "environmental or health and safety law" shall be construed broadly.

Added by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (S.B. 1488), Sec. 20.002(a), eff. September 1, 2017.