AN ACT
1-1 relating to security bars on residential dwellings.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Chapter 756, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-4 by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:
1-5 SUBCHAPTER F. SECURITY BARS
1-6 Sec. 756.081. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
1-7 (1) "Bedroom" means an area of a dwelling intended as
1-8 sleeping quarters.
1-9 (2) "Board" means the Texas Board of Health.
1-10 (3) "Department" means the Texas Department of Health.
1-11 (4) "Residential dwelling" includes a single-family
1-12 home, a duplex, a triplex, an apartment, a motel or hotel, and a
1-13 mobile home.
1-14 (5) "Security bars" means burglar bars or other bars
1-15 located on the inside or outside of a door or window of a
1-16 residential dwelling.
1-17 Sec. 756.082. SECURITY BARS ON RESIDENTIAL DWELLING. A
1-18 person may not install security bars on a door or window of a
1-19 bedroom in a residential dwelling unless:
1-20 (1) the security bars on at least one door or window
1-21 in the bedroom have an interior release mechanism; or
1-22 (2) at least one window or door from the bedroom to
1-23 the exterior may be opened for emergency escape or rescue.
1-24 Sec. 756.083. LABELING REQUIREMENT. (a) Except as provided
2-1 by Subsection (b), a person may not sell security bars or offer
2-2 security bars for sale in this state unless the security bars or
2-3 their packaging are labeled in accordance with rules adopted by the
2-4 state fire marshal. The required label must state the requirements
2-5 of Section 756.082.
2-6 (b) A person who is not regularly and actively engaged in
2-7 business as a wholesale or retail dealer may sell or offer to sell
2-8 security bars in this state provided that proper written notice of
2-9 the requirements of Section 756.082 is provided to the buyer in a
2-10 form approved by the state fire marshal.
2-11 Sec. 756.084. RECOMMENDED RELEASE MECHANISM. (a) The state
2-12 fire marshal or a testing laboratory under conditions and
2-13 procedures approved by the state fire marshal may recommend an
2-14 interior release mechanism that has been shown to be effective.
2-15 (b) The state fire marshal shall adopt rules to implement
2-16 this section.
2-17 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-18 (b) The state fire marshal shall adopt the rules required by
2-19 Sections 756.083 and 756.084, Health and Safety Code, as added by
2-20 this Act, not later than December 15, 1999.
2-21 SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
2-22 to security bars installed, sold, or offered for sale on or after
2-23 January 1, 2000. Security bars installed, sold, or offered for
2-24 sale before that date are governed by the law in effect on the date
2-25 the security bars were installed, sold, or offered for sale, and
2-26 the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
S.B. No. 839
3-1 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
________________________________ ________________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 839 passed the Senate on
April 19, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0;
May 11, 1999, Senate refused to concur in House amendment and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 13, 1999, House
granted request of the Senate; May 27, 1999, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 839 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 8, 1999, by a non-record vote; May 13, 1999,
House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference
Committee; May 27, 1999, House adopted Conference Committee Report
by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
________________________________
Date
________________________________
Governor