§ 84.003.Definitions

Title 4. Liability in Tort · Chapter 84. Charitable Immunity and Liability · Last amended 2015 · Last verified August 29, 2026

In one sentenceSection 84.003 defines charitable organization through six categories, and volunteer, employee, and volunteer health care provider through thirteen licensed professions.

Full Text of § 84.003

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In this chapter:

(1)"Charitable organization" means:

(A)any organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by being listed as an exempt organization in Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the code, if it is a corporation, foundation, community chest, church, or fund organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, prevention of cruelty to children or animals, youth sports and youth recreational, neighborhood crime prevention or patrol, fire protection or prevention, emergency medical or hazardous material response services, or educational purposes, including private primary or secondary schools if accredited by a member association of the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission but excluding fraternities, sororities, and secret societies, or is organized and operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare by being primarily engaged in promoting the common good and general welfare of the people in a community;

(B)any bona fide charitable, religious, prevention of cruelty to children or animals, youth sports and youth recreational, neighborhood crime prevention or patrol, or educational organization, excluding fraternities, sororities, and secret societies, or other organization organized and operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare by being primarily engaged in promoting the common good and general welfare of the people in a community, and that:

(i)is organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the above purposes;

(ii)does not engage in activities which in themselves are not in furtherance of the purpose or purposes;

(iii)does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office;

(iv)dedicates its assets to achieving the stated purpose or purposes of the organization;

(v)does not allow any part of its net assets on dissolution of the organization to inure to the benefit of any group, shareholder, or individual; and

(vi)normally receives more than one-third of its support in any year from private or public gifts, grants, contributions, or membership fees;

(C)a homeowners association as defined by Section 528(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or which is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by being listed as an exempt organization in Section 501(c)(4) of the code;

(D)a volunteer center, as that term is defined by Section 411.126, Government Code;

(E)a local chamber of commerce that:

(i)is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by being listed as an exempt organization in Section 501(c)(6) of the code;

(ii)does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office; and

(iii)does not directly or indirectly contribute to a political action committee that makes expenditures to any candidates for public office; or

(F)any organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 by being listed as an exempt organization in Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(5) of the code, if it is an organization or corporation organized and operated exclusively for wildfire mitigation, range management, or prescribed burning purposes.

(2)"Volunteer" means a person rendering services for or on behalf of a charitable organization who does not receive compensation in excess of reimbursement for expenses incurred. The term includes a person serving as a director, officer, trustee, or direct service volunteer, including a volunteer health care provider.

(3)"Employee" means any person, including an officer or director, who is in the paid service of a charitable organization, but does not include an independent contractor.

(4)Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 18.03(1).

(5)"Volunteer health care provider" means an individual who voluntarily provides health care services without compensation or expectation of compensation and who is:

(A)an individual who is licensed to practice medicine under Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code;

(B)a retired physician who is eligible to provide health care services, including a retired physician who is licensed but exempt from paying the required annual registration fee under Section 156.002, Occupations Code;

(C)a physician assistant licensed under Chapter 204, Occupations Code, or a retired physician assistant who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(D)a registered nurse, including an advanced nurse practitioner, or vocational nurse, licensed under Chapter 301, Occupations Code, or a retired vocational nurse or registered nurse, including a retired advanced nurse practitioner, who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(E)a pharmacist licensed under Subtitle J, Title 3, Occupations Code, or a retired pharmacist who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(F)a podiatrist licensed under Chapter 202, Occupations Code, or a retired podiatrist who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(G)a dentist licensed under Subtitle D, Title 3, Occupations Code, or a retired dentist who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(H)a dental hygienist licensed under Subtitle D, Title 3, Occupations Code, or a retired dental hygienist who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(I)an optometrist or therapeutic optometrist licensed under Chapter 351, Occupations Code, or a retired optometrist or therapeutic optometrist who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(J)a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant licensed under Chapter 453, Occupations Code, or a retired physical therapist or physical therapist assistant who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(K)an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant licensed under Chapter 454, Occupations Code, or a retired occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant who is eligible to provide health care services under the law of this state;

(L)an audiologist, assistant in audiology, speech- language pathologist, or assistant in speech-language pathology licensed under Chapter 401, Occupations Code, or a retired audiologist, assistant in audiology, speech-language pathologist, or assistant in speech-language pathology who is eligible to provide health care services under the laws of this state; or

(M)a social worker licensed under Chapter 505, Occupations Code, or a retired social worker who is eligible to engage in the practice of social work under the law of this state.

(6)"Hospital system" means a system of hospitals and other health care providers located in this state that are under the common governance or control of a corporate parent.

(7)"Person responsible for the patient" means:

(A)the patient's parent, managing conservator, or guardian;

(B)the patient's grandparent;

(C)the patient's adult brother or sister;

(D)another adult who has actual care, control, and possession of the patient and has written authorization to consent for the patient from the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the patient;

(E)an educational institution in which the patient is enrolled that has written authorization to consent for the patient from the parent, managing conservator, or guardian of the patient; or

(F)any other person with legal responsibility for the care of the patient.

End

Plain-English Summary

Seven definitions, and the first two determine who the chapter protects.

"Charitable organization" covers six categories: an organization exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, prevention of cruelty, youth sports and recreation, neighborhood crime prevention, or educational purposes; a bona fide organization of those kinds meeting six listed conditions, excluding fraternities, sororities, and secret societies; a homeowners association; a volunteer center; a local chamber of commerce that is 501(c)(6) exempt and does not participate in political campaigns; and a 501(c)(3) or (c)(5) organization for wildfire mitigation, range management, or prescribed burning.

The second category matters most, because it reaches organizations that are not tax-exempt. Its six conditions require exclusive operation for the stated purposes, no non-furthering activities, no political campaign participation, dedicated assets, no private benefit on dissolution, and more than one-third of support from gifts, grants, contributions, or membership fees.

"Volunteer" is a person rendering services who does not receive compensation in excess of reimbursement for expenses, including a director, officer, trustee, or direct service volunteer.

"Employee" is a person in the paid service of the organization, excluding an independent contractor.

"Volunteer health care provider" lists thirteen professions — physicians, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, podiatrists, dentists, dental hygienists, optometrists, physical and occupational therapists, audiologists and speech-language pathologists, and social workers — each including retired practitioners eligible to provide services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as a charitable organization in Texas?

Six categories, including 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) organizations, bona fide charitable organizations meeting six conditions, homeowners associations, volunteer centers, qualifying local chambers of commerce, and wildfire mitigation organizations.

Does a non-exempt organization qualify?

It can, under the second category, if it meets six conditions including exclusive operation for the stated purposes, no political campaign participation, and receiving more than a third of its support from gifts, grants, contributions, or membership fees.

Who is a volunteer?

A person rendering services for a charitable organization who does not receive compensation beyond reimbursement of expenses, including directors, officers, trustees, and direct service volunteers.

Are retired practitioners covered?

Yes. Each of the thirteen listed professions expressly includes retired practitioners eligible to provide health care services.

Amendment History

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 370, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 634, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;
Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 403, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 400, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 77, Sec. 1, eff. May 14, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 538, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.732, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 93, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 204, Sec. 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 18.03(1) eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 553, Sec. 2.001, eff. Feb. 1, 2004; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 895, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 239 (H.B. 2005), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 791 (S.B. 1211), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 39 (S.B. 1846), Sec. 1, eff. May 9, 2011.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 14 (S.B. 378), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 169 (H.B. 2119), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015.

Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from Texas Legislature Online (statutes.capitol.texas.gov). Enacted by the Texas Legislature. Current through May 14, 2026. Last verified August 29, 2026. · Official source