SRC-LBB S.B. 1397 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1397 78R7085 MI-FBy: Ogden Infrastructure Development and Security 3/26/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is no mechanism to provide workers' compensation, long term disability, and other benefits for non-state-employed members of Texas Task Force 1 while on state-activated deployments or training. Texas Task Force 1 is the state's search and rescue response team designed to provide a coordinated response to state and national disasters including natural disasters and man-made technological and terrorist events. In the event participants are injured or killed during state-activated deployments, no coverage exists for those personnel who are not state employees. As proposed, S.B. 1397 provides appropriate coverage for non-state-employed task force members while assigned as a state resource either by activation by the governor's office or during team training activities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 88, Education Code, adding Subchapter D, as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. TEXAS TASK FORCE 1 Sec. 88.301. DEFINITIONS. Defines "local government employee member," "member," "nongovernment member," and "state employee member." Sec. 88.302. TEXAS TASK FORCE 1. Provides that the Texas Task Force 1 is a program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service providing training and responding to assist in search, rescue, and recovery efforts following natural or man-made disasters. Sec. 88.303. WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE COVERAGE. (a) Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, during any period in which Texas Task Force 1 is activated by the governor's division of emergency management, or during any training session sponsored or sanctioned by Texas Task Force 1, a participating nongovernment member or local government employee member is included in the coverage provided under Chapter 501, Labor Code, in the same manner as an employee, as defined by Section 501.001, Labor Code. (b) Provides that service with Texas Task Force 1 by a state employee member who is activated is considered to be in the course and scope of the employee's regular employment with the state. (c) Provides that service with Texas Task Force 1 by an employee of The Texas A&M University System is considered to be in the course and scope of the employee's regular employment with The Texas A&M University System. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.