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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to personal assistive mobility device protections for |
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patients receiving emergency medical services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 773, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 773.0125 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 773.0125. PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICE |
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PROTECTIONS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Hospital" means a general hospital, a pediatric |
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and adolescent hospital, or a special hospital, as those terms are |
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defined by Section 241.003. |
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(2) "Personal assistive mobility device" means a |
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wheelchair or a motorized assistive mobility device, including a |
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motorized wheelchair. |
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(b) This section applies to the transport, custody, and |
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control of a personal assistive mobility device of a patient who is |
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receiving emergency medical services while the device is: |
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(1) in an emergency medical services vehicle; |
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(2) being transported or controlled by emergency |
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medical services personnel, including volunteers; |
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(3) being transported or controlled by an emergency |
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medical services provider; |
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(4) under the custody or control of a hospital; or |
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(5) under the custody or control of an individual who |
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is providing the emergency medical services for an emergency |
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medical services and trauma care system. |
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(c) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules to: |
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(1) ensure the safety and security of and the |
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protection of property rights in a patient's personal assistive |
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mobility device while the patient is receiving emergency medical |
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services as described by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) require each person or entity that provides the |
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emergency medical services to adopt procedures, in accordance with |
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commission rules, for the: |
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(A) safe and secure storage of the patient's |
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personal assistive mobility device for the duration of the service |
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provision; |
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(B) return to the patient of the patient's |
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personal assistive mobility device at the time the service |
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provision concludes; and |
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(C) safe and secure transfer of the patient's |
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personal assistive mobility device from one person providing |
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emergency medical services as described by Subsection (b) to |
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another person providing those services, including the transfer of |
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a personal assistive mobility device for a patient who is |
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transported by air. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt the rules required by Section |
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773.0125, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |