1-1 By: Brown S.B. No. 413 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 1, 1995; February 2, 1995, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 March 21, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, 1-5 Nays 0; March 21, 1995, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to workers' compensation insurance coverage for volunteer 1-9 emergency service members and personnel. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 406, Labor Code, is amended 1-12 by adding Section 406.097 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 406.097. VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICE MEMBERS AND 1-14 PERSONNEL. (a) An emergency service organization which is not a 1-15 political subdivision or which is separate from any political 1-16 subdivision may elect to obtain workers' compensation insurance 1-17 coverage for its named volunteer members who participate in the 1-18 normal functions of the organization. A person covered under this 1-19 subsection is entitled to full medical benefits and the minimum 1-20 compensation payments under the law. 1-21 (b) In this section, unless a different meaning is plainly 1-22 required by law: 1-23 (1) "Emergency service organization" means any 1-24 organization established to provide for the general public: 1-25 (A) fire prevention and suppression; 1-26 (B) hazardous materials response operations; or 1-27 (C) emergency medical services. 1-28 (2) "Volunteer members" means individuals who are 1-29 carried on the membership list of the organization as active 1-30 participants and who receive no remuneration for their services. 1-31 (3) "Normal functions" means any response to, 1-32 participation in, or departure from an incident scene; training; 1-33 meetings; performance of equipment maintenance; or organizational 1-34 functions. 1-35 (4) "Political subdivision" means a county, 1-36 municipality, special district, school district, junior college 1-37 district, housing authority, community center for mental health and 1-38 mental retardation services established under Subchapter A, Chapter 1-39 534, Health and Safety Code, or any other legally constituted 1-40 political subdivision of the state. 1-41 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-42 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-43 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-44 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-45 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-46 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-47 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-48 * * * * *