BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1582

By: Lucio

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and certain governmental employees receive protections under state law relating to benefits for certain diseases or illnesses to which these individuals may be exposed during the performance of their job. It has been suggested that peace officers face the same risks as these responders yet are not offered the same benefits. S.B. 1582 seeks to address this issue by extending these benefits to peace officers.

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. 1582 amends the Government Code to extend the applicability of provisions relating to a determination of whether the disability or death of an applicable firefighter or emergency medical technician resulted from a disease or illness contracted by the firefighter or emergency medical technician in the course and scope of employment for purposes of certain benefits to peace officers who satisfy the same conditions as an applicable firefighter or emergency medical technician. The bill extends to peace officers the entitlement of a firefighter or other governmental employee who operates an ambulance or responds to emergency medical calls to preventative immunization for a disease to which the employee may be exposed in performing official duties and for which immunization is possible.      

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.