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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the designation of animal control officers as first |
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responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 421.095, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 421.095. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter |
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(1) "First responder" means a public safety employee |
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or volunteer whose duties include responding rapidly to an |
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emergency. The term includes: |
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(A) a peace officer whose duties include |
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responding rapidly to an emergency; |
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(B) fire protection personnel under section |
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419.021; |
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(C) a volunteer firefighter who is: |
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(i) certified by the Texas Commission on |
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Fire Protection or by the state Firemen's and Fire Marshals' |
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Association of Texas; or |
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(ii) a member of an organized volunteer |
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fire-fighting unit as described by section 615.003; |
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(D) an individual certified as emergency medical |
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services personnel by the Department of State Health Services; |
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(E) an emergency response operator or emergency |
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services dispatcher who provides communication support services |
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for an agency by responding to requests for assistance in |
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emergencies; |
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(F) an animal control officer whose duties |
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include responding rapidly to an emergency; and |
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(G) other emergency response personnel employed |
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by an agency. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |