By: Hughes S.B. No. 1953               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to indemnification and duties of engineers and architects   under certain governmental contracts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2254.0031, Government Code is amended to   read as follows:          2254.0031. INDEMNIFICATION.  (a)  A state governmental   entity may require a contractor selected under this subchapter to   indemnify or hold harmless the state from claims and liabilities   resulting from the negligent acts or omissions of the contractor or   persons employed by the contractor.  A state governmental entity   may not require a contractor to indemnify, [or] hold harmless, or   defend the state for claims or liabilities resulting from the   negligent acts or omissions of the state governmental entity or its   employees.          (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, Sections   271.904(a)-(e), Local Government Code, apply to a contract for   architectural or engineering services between an architect or   engineer selected under this subchapter and a state agency, as   defined by Section 2052.101.          SECTION 2.  Section 2254.0031, Government Code, as amended   by this Act, applies only to a contract for which a request for   proposals or a request for qualifications is first published or   distributed on or after the effective date of this Act.  A contract   for which a request for proposals or a request for qualifications is   first published or distributed before the effective date of this   Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the request was   published or distributed, and the former law is continued in effect   for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.