BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3753
86R11670 SMT-F	By: Harless et al. (Alvarado)
	Intergovernmental Relations
	5/11/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

It has been suggested that recent disasters around Texas have shown a need to provide additional training to first responders so that they are adequately prepared for a myriad of disasters. H.B. 3753 seeks to help address this issue by including first responders in fire-related training programs provided by a county fire marshal.

 

H.B. 3753 amends the Local Government Code, with respect to a provision authorizing a county commissioners court to authorize the county fire marshal to provide training programs and operate a training facility, to specify that such training programs relate to fire-fighting and fire prevention and to change the entities for whom the fire marshal provides such programs and operates such a facility from the various fire-fighting and fire prevention units in the county to first responders in the county. The bill defines "first responder" by reference.

 

H.B. 3753 amends current law relating to the authority of a county fire marshal to provide fire‑related training programs for first responders.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Section 352.019, Local Government Code, to read as follows:

 

Sec. 352.019. COOPERATION WITH OTHER FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES; TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.

 

SECTION 2. Amends �Section 352.019(e), Local Government Code, as follows:

 

(e) Authorizes a county commissioners court to authorize the fire marshal to provide training programs relating to fire-fighting and fire prevention and operate a training facility for first responders in the county, rather than authorizing a county commissioners court to authorize the fire marshal to provide training programs and operate a training facility for the various fire-fighting and fire prevention units in the county. Defines "first responder" for purposes of this subsection.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.