82R7029 TJS-F
 
  By: S. Davis of Harris H.B. No. 1354
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to liability of certain certified municipal inspectors for
  services rendered during an emergency or disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 150.001, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (1) and adding
  Subdivisions (1-a) and (1-b) to read as follows:
               (1)  "Certified municipal inspector" means an
  individual who is employed full-time by a political subdivision and
  is currently:
                     (A)  certified by a national model code group; or
                     (B)  licensed as a plumbing inspector, as defined
  by Section 1301.002, Occupations Code.
               (1-a)  "Licensed or registered professional" means a
  licensed architect, licensed professional engineer, registered
  professional land surveyor, registered landscape architect, or any
  firm in which such licensed or registered professional practices,
  including but not limited to a corporation, professional
  corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, limited
  liability partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, or any
  other business entity.
               (1-b)  "National model code group" means an
  organization consisting of industry and government fire and
  building safety officials that develops and promulgates a national
  model code, as defined by Section 214.217, Local Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 150, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
  is amended by adding Section 150.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 150.004.  LIABILITY FOR SERVICES RENDERED BY CERTIFIED
  MUNICIPAL INSPECTOR DURING EMERGENCY OR DISASTER. (a) This section
  applies only to a certified municipal inspector who provides
  inspection services if the services:
               (1)  are authorized by the scope of the inspector's:
                     (A)  national model code group certification; or
                     (B)  plumbing inspector's license under Chapter
  1301, Occupations Code;
               (2)  are provided voluntarily and without compensation
  or the expectation of compensation from any source other than the
  inspector's full-time employment with a municipality;
               (3)  are in response to and provided during the
  duration of a proclaimed state of emergency under Section 433.001,
  Government Code, or a declared state of disaster under Section
  418.014, Government Code;
               (4)  are provided at the request or with the approval of
  a federal, state, or local public official acting in an official
  capacity in response to the proclaimed state of emergency or
  declared disaster, including a law enforcement official, public
  safety official, or building inspection official; and
               (5)  are related to a structure, building, premises,
  piping, or other system, either publicly or privately owned.
         (b)  A certified municipal inspector who provides the
  services to which this section applies is not liable for civil
  damages, including personal injury, wrongful death, property
  damage, or other loss related to the inspector's act, error, or
  omission in the performance of the services, unless the act, error,
  or omission constitutes:
               (1)  gross negligence; or
               (2)  wanton, wilful, or intentional misconduct.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to a cause of action that
  accrues on or after the effective date of this Act. A cause of
  action that accrues before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law applicable to the cause of action immediately
  before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
  effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.