BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3335

By: Canales

Business & Industry

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Firefighters, peace officers, or emergency medical personnel can suffer serious injuries when traveling to an emergency call. However, under current law only firefighters or emergency medical personnel are covered by workers' compensation if seriously injured during such travel. C.S.H.B. 3335 seeks to extend this coverage 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

C.S.H.B. 3335 amends the Labor Code to include a peace officer among the emergency response personnel for whom the travel en route to an emergency call is considered to be in the course and scope of employment for purposes of the Texas Workers' Compensation Act. The bill applies only to a claim for workers' compensation benefits based on a compensable injury that occurs on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3335 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The introduced included the travel of emergency response personnel from an emergency call as travel considered to be in the course and scope of employment for workers' compensation purposes. The substitute does not do so.