| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the right of a residential tenant to summon police or |
|
|
emergency assistance. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 250.014 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 250.014. REGULATION OF TENANT'S RIGHT TO SUMMON POLICE |
|
|
OR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding any other law, |
|
|
a political subdivision may not adopt or enforce an ordinance, |
|
|
order, or other regulation that: |
|
|
(1) requires a landlord to evict a residential tenant |
|
|
who summons police or emergency assistance to the tenant's |
|
|
residence more than a specified number of times; or |
|
|
(2) imposes a fee or monetary or other penalties on a |
|
|
landlord based on requests by a tenant for police or emergency |
|
|
assistance if the assistance was requested or dispatched based on |
|
|
the tenant's reasonable belief that an individual was in need of |
|
|
intervention or emergency assistance. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 92.015(a), Property Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) A landlord may not: |
|
|
(1) prohibit or limit a residential tenant's right to |
|
|
summon police or other emergency assistance based on the tenant's |
|
|
reasonable belief that an individual is in need of intervention or |
|
|
emergency assistance; [or] |
|
|
(2) impose monetary or other penalties on a tenant who |
|
|
summons police or emergency assistance if the assistance was |
|
|
requested or dispatched based on the tenant's reasonable belief |
|
|
that an individual was in need of intervention or emergency |
|
|
assistance; or |
|
|
(3) evict or threaten to evict a tenant not otherwise |
|
|
in default who summons police or emergency assistance if the |
|
|
assistance was requested or dispatched based on the tenant's |
|
|
reasonable belief that an individual was in need of intervention or |
|
|
emergency assistance. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |