88R10948 LRM-D
 
  By: Campos, Kacal H.B. No. 4171
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to county and municipal regulation of automated external
  defibrillators.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 122, Health and Safety Code, is amended
  by adding Section 122.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 122.009.  COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF AUTOMATED
  EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS. (a) In this section, "automated external
  defibrillator" has the meaning assigned by Section 779.001.
         (b)  After public notice and hearing, a county or
  municipality by order or ordinance may require automated external
  defibrillators to be installed and maintained in structures subject
  to county or municipal licensure or other regulation to provide
  adequate emergency preparedness. The order or ordinance:
               (1)  may specify the structures subject to the
  requirement and the minimum number and position of required
  automated external defibrillators;
               (2)  may not apply to a health facility licensed under
  Title 4 or a premises with an occupancy limit of 30 or fewer
  persons; and
               (3)  may provide exceptions and a variance process to
  ensure small businesses are not adversely impacted.
         (c)  The governing body of a municipality or the
  commissioners court of a county shall consult with the county or
  municipal fire marshal, the county or municipal fire chief, or
  other local official with authority over emergency matters to
  determine whether to require automated external defibrillators
  under Subsection (b) and the structures subject to the requirement.
         (d)  A county order adopted under Subsection (b) does not
  apply to structures within a municipality and the municipality's
  extraterritorial jurisdiction if the municipality has adopted an
  ordinance under Subsection (b). A municipal ordinance may apply to
  structures within the municipality's extraterritorial
  jurisdiction.
         (e)  A county or municipality:
               (1)  may inspect a structure subject to an order or
  ordinance adopted under Subsection (b) to ensure compliance with
  the order or ordinance; and
               (2)  may not impose application or inspection fees
  related to an order or ordinance adopted under Subsection (b).
         (f)  Chapter 779 applies to automated external
  defibrillators required under an order or ordinance adopted under
  Subsection (b).
         (g)  A county or municipality and county or municipal elected
  or appointed officials, employees, and agents are not liable for
  the regulation of or failure to regulate automated external
  defibrillators.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.