84R15384 SGA-D
 
  By: King of Hemphill H.B. No. 801
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 801:
 
  By:  Larson C.S.H.B. No. 801
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to planning for the use of and liability resulting from
  prescribed burns by the Parks and Wildlife Department.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
  by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER M. PRESCRIBED BURNS
         Sec. 11.351.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Landowner" includes any person who owns, has a
  property interest in, or leases a parcel of privately owned land or
  improvements on the land.
               (2)  "Utility infrastructure" means any facility owned
  by:
                     (A)  an electric utility as "electric utility" is
  defined by Section 31.002, Utilities Code; or
                     (B)  a gas utility as "gas utility" is defined by
  Section 101.003 or 121.001, Utilities Code.
         Sec. 11.352.  APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
  to prescribed burns conducted by the department on state land
  managed by the department.
         Sec. 11.353.  GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PLAN REQUIREMENTS. (a)
  The commission by rule shall adopt and shall require the department
  to implement a general plan for the use of beneficial prescribed
  burns in the management of department land. The general plan must
  include standards that meet or exceed the standards for a
  prescribed burn set out in Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code.
         (b)  The general plan must include variations as needed for
  different areas of the state.
         (c)  The general plan must be reviewed by the Prescribed
  Burning Board within the Department of Agriculture.
         (d)  The department may not conduct a prescribed burn under
  this subchapter before the general plan has been adopted by the
  commission.
         (e)  For a particular prescribed burn, a site-specific plan
  tailored to the designated area must be completed and approved by a
  person designated by the director to review prescribed burn plans.
  In addition to any site-specific information required under the
  general plan, a site-specific plan must include:
               (1)  the planned start and end dates of the prescribed
  burn;
               (2)  a map of the designated burn area, including the
  location of any utility infrastructure within the designated burn
  area;
               (3)  the names and contact numbers for:
                     (A)  the prescribed burn manager;
                     (B)  the nearest fire departments or emergency
  service providers; and
                     (C)  all landowners whose property neighbors the
  designated burn area; and
               (4)  written documentation that applicable prescribed
  burn notification and approval requirements of the Texas Commission
  on Environmental Quality have been met.
         Sec. 11.354.  NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The department shall
  provide adequate advance notice of the department's intent to
  conduct a prescribed burn to each neighboring landowner and
  appropriate local officials in the vicinity of the designated burn
  area.
         (b)  The landowner's notice must include:
               (1)  the planned start and end dates of the prescribed
  burn;
               (2)  any safety precautions the landowner should take
  to ensure the safety of the landowner's property before, during,
  and after the burn;
               (3)  a map of the prescribed burn area, including the
  location of any utility infrastructure within the designated burn
  area;
               (4)  the methods proposed for use in conducting the
  burn; and
               (5)  contact information for the prescribed burn
  manager and the department.
         (c)  The department shall publish advance notice of a planned
  prescribed burn in a newspaper of general circulation in the county
  or counties in which the burn will be conducted.
         Sec. 11.355.  INSURANCE. The department shall purchase
  liability insurance or establish a self-insurance fund as provided
  by Subchapter B, Chapter 2259, Government Code, for liability
  coverage for money damages in the amounts specified by Section
  153.082, Natural Resources Code, to protect the department and the
  department's employees against claims under this subchapter
  resulting from:
               (1)  bodily injury or death resulting from a prescribed
  burn; or
               (2)  injury to or destruction of property resulting
  from a prescribed burn.
         Sec. 11.356.  LIABILITY. The department is liable for
  actual damages for:
               (1)  injury to or destruction of property, bodily
  injury, or death proximately caused by the wrongful act or omission
  or the negligence of an employee acting within the scope of
  employment if:
                     (A)  the injury to or destruction of property,
  bodily injury, or death arises from the escape of fire from a
  prescribed burn conducted by the department; and
                     (B)  the employee would be personally liable to
  the claimant according to Texas law;
               (2)  injury to or destruction of property, bodily
  injury, or death so caused by the escape of fire from a prescribed
  burn conducted by the department if the department would, were it a
  private person, be liable to the claimant according to Texas law;
  and
               (3)  injury to or destruction of utility infrastructure
  caused by a prescribed burn.
         Sec. 11.357.  LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF LIABILITY.  Liability
  of the department under this subchapter is limited to money damages
  in an amount not to exceed the amount of insurance coverage required
  by Section 11.355.
         Sec. 11.358.  APPLICATION OF TORT CLAIMS ACT. (a)  A claim
  asserted under this subchapter may not also be asserted against the
  department under Subchapter B, Chapter 101, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code, or against a department employee.
         (b)  Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, applies to a suit brought under this subchapter.
         Sec. 11.359.  WAIVER OF GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY; PERMISSION TO
  SUE.  (a)  Sovereign immunity to suit is waived and abolished to the
  extent of liability created by this subchapter.
         (b)  A person having a claim under this subchapter may sue
  the department for damages allowed by this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  The Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt a
  general plan for prescribed burns on land managed by the Parks and
  Wildlife Department as provided by Section 11.353, Parks and
  Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2016.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies only to a claim for damages
  resulting from a prescribed burn conducted by the Parks and
  Wildlife Department on or after the effective date of this Act. A
  claim for damages resulting from a prescribed burn conducted by the
  Parks and Wildlife Department before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the first day of the prescribed
  burn, 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, 2015.