H.B. No. 2082

AN ACT

relating to the designation of a liaison to assist first responders with workers' compensation claims.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 404, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 404.1525 to read as follows:

Sec. 404.1525. FIRST RESPONDER LIAISON. (a) In this section, "first responder" has the meaning assigned by Section 504.055.

(b) The public counsel shall designate an employee of the office to act as first responder liaison.

(c) The first responder liaison shall assist an injured first responder and, if applicable, the ombudsman assigned to the first responder's case, during a workers' compensation administrative dispute resolution process.

(d) The first responder liaison:

(1) must meet the qualifications for designation as an ombudsman under this subchapter; and

(2) is subject to the training and education requirements for an ombudsman under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. Section 404.153, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) An employer that employs first responders or supervises volunteer first responders shall notify the first responders of the first responder liaison in the manner prescribed by the office. In this subsection, "first responder" has the meaning assigned by Section 504.055.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2082 was passed by the House on May 9, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 7, 1 present, not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

I certify that H.B. No. 2082 was passed by the Senate on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________

Date

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Governor