BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1112

By: Davis, Sarah

Public Health

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding delays in the removal of outdoor signage of freestanding emergency medical care facilities that are not in operation. H.B. 1112 seeks to address these concerns by requiring such a facility to remove signs from the public view immediately after the facility closes or loses its license. 

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

H.B. 1112 amends the Health and Safety Code to require a freestanding emergency medical care facility that closes or for which a license for such facilities expires or is suspended or revoked to immediately remove or cause to be removed any signs within view of the general public indicating that the facility is in operation. The bill authorizes the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to petition a district court for a temporary restraining order to restrain a continuing violation of that requirement if DSHS finds that the violation creates an immediate threat to the health and safety of the patients of a facility or of the public and authorizes a district court, on petition of DSHS and on a finding by the court that a person is violating the requirement, by injunction to prohibit a person from continuing the violation, to restrain or prevent the establishment or operation of a freestanding emergency medical care facility without a license, or to grant any other injunctive relief warranted by the facts.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.