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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring emergency generators or other power sources |
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in nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 242, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 242.053 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 242.053. EMERGENCY GENERATOR OR OTHER POWER SOURCE. |
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Each nursing facility licensed under this chapter shall ensure that |
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the facility is equipped with an operational emergency generator or |
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comparable emergency power source and a sufficient amount of fuel |
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to operate the generator or power source and maintain the air |
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temperature in the facility at not less than 68 degrees and not more |
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than 81 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 72 hours during a power |
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outage. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 247, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 247.072 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 247.072. EMERGENCY GENERATOR OR OTHER POWER SOURCE. |
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Each assisted living facility licensed under this chapter shall |
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ensure that the facility is equipped with an operational emergency |
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generator or comparable emergency power source and a sufficient |
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amount of fuel to operate the generator or power source and maintain |
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the air temperature in the facility at not less than 68 degrees and |
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not more than 81 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 72 hours during |
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a power outage. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human |
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Services Commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement |
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Sections 242.053 and 247.072, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |