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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of a liaison to assist first responders |
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with workers' compensation claims. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 404, Labor Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 404.1525 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 404.1525. FIRST RESPONDER LIAISON. (a) In this |
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section, "first responder" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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504.055. |
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(b) The public counsel shall designate an employee of the |
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office to act as first responder liaison. |
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(c) The first responder liaison shall assist an injured |
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first responder and, if applicable, the ombudsman assigned to the |
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first responder's case, during a workers' compensation |
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administrative dispute resolution process. |
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(d) The first responder liaison: |
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(1) must meet the qualifications for designation as an |
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ombudsman under this subchapter; and |
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(2) is subject to the training and education |
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requirements for an ombudsman under this subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 404.153, Labor Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) An employer that employs first responders or |
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supervises volunteer first responders shall notify the first |
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responders of the first responder liaison in the manner prescribed |
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by the office. In this subsection, "first responder" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 504.055. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |