PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Sep 21, 2005
Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2005 (GIVE Act of 2005) - Exempts from liability for acts or omissions: (1) disaster relief volunteers; (2) employers or business partners of disaster relief volunteers; (3) hosts or enabling persons, entities, or organizations; and (4) governmental and intergovernmental entities for donations of disaster relief goods.
Specifies limits to punitive and non-economic damages for willful, knowing, or reckless misconduct based on the actions of disaster relief volunteers and governmental or intergovernmental donors.
Provides for: (1) judicial review of allegations; (2) supplemental disaster declarations by the President, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, or the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (3) state election for nonapplicability of a provision of this Act to certain civil actions in state court.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Amends the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 with respect to liability protection for actions of volunteers generally.
Exempts persons from civil liability relating to any injury or death involving: (1) donations of equipment to nonprofit organizations; or (2) use of facilities, a motor vehicle or aircraft provided to nonprofit organizations.
Provides for judicial review of allegations
People & committees
Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] · R–TX
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10301-10302)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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