BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 546

By: Kolkhorst

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties have raised concerns regarding the quality of drinking water at state supported living centers, citing reports of hazardous lead levels in the water supply of several centers. S.B. 546 seeks to address these concerns by requiring the Department of Aging and Disability Services or its successor agency to take certain actions to ensure the quality of water provided by public drinking water supply systems to state supported living centers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 546 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) or its successor agency, for the purpose of ensuring the quality of water provided by public drinking water supply systems to state supported living centers and with guidance from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, to take the following actions:

· develop a testing plan and monitoring strategy, outreach and educational materials for distribution to residents and DADS staff, requirements for using an accredited laboratory and sample chain of custody procedures, and guidance for compliance with certain federal lead and copper rules;

· review public notification procedures to staff, residents, and visitors regarding water quality, sampling protocols and procedures, locations of taps used for monitoring, analytical data on lead or copper levels exceeding the applicable action level, remediation activities, and customer service inspection reports;

· compile a list of qualified customer service inspectors; and

· perform on-site training and evaluation of sampling and on-site evaluation of customer service inspections through licensed customer service inspectors.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.