| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to emergency generators or other power sources in nursing |
|
|
facilities and assisted living facilities. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 242, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 242.053 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 242.053. EMERGENCY GENERATOR OR OTHER POWER SOURCE. |
|
|
Each nursing facility licensed under this chapter shall ensure the |
|
|
facility is equipped with an operational emergency generator or |
|
|
comparable emergency power source and a sufficient amount of fuel |
|
|
to operate the generator or power source and maintain the air |
|
|
temperature in the facility at not more than 81 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
|
for a minimum of 72 hours during a power outage. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 247, Health and Safety |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 247.072 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 247.072. EMERGENCY GENERATOR OR OTHER POWER SOURCE. |
|
|
Each assisted living facility licensed under this chapter shall |
|
|
ensure the facility is equipped with an operational emergency |
|
|
generator or comparable emergency power source and a sufficient |
|
|
amount of fuel to operate the generator or power source and maintain |
|
|
the air temperature in the facility at not more than 81 degrees |
|
|
Fahrenheit for a minimum of 72 hours during a power outage. |
|
|
SECTION 3. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
|
|
date of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
|
|
Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
|
|
Sections 242.053 and 247.072, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act. |
|
|
(b) Notwithstanding Sections 242.053 and 247.072, Health |
|
|
and Safety Code, as added by this Act, a nursing facility or |
|
|
assisted living facility, as applicable, is not required to comply |
|
|
with those sections until March 1, 2022. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |