By: Bell of Montgomery, Lambert, Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 1090

(Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst)

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 13, 2019; May 14, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Water & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the definition of first responder.

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

SECTION 1. Section 421.095(1), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "First responder" means a public safety employee or volunteer whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency. The term includes:

(A) a peace officer whose duties include responding rapidly to an emergency;

(B) fire protection personnel under Section 419.021;

(C) a volunteer firefighter who is:

(i) certified by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or by the State Firemen's and Fire Marshalls' Association of Texas; or

(ii) a member of an organized volunteer fire-fighting unit as described by Section 615.003; [and]

(D) an individual certified as emergency medical services personnel by the Department of State Health Services;

(E) an emergency response operator or emergency services dispatcher who provides communication support services for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in emergencies; and

(F) other emergency response personnel employed by an agency.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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