88(R) SB 611 - Introduced version - Bill Text
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
relating to the regulation of certain senior living facilities.
 
             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 
             SECTION  1.    Title 8, Property Code, is amended by adding
 
Chapter 95 to read as follows:
 
CHAPTER 95. SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES
 
             Sec.  95.001.    DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
 
                         (1)     "Common amenity" means an amenity or service
 
offered or provided to residents of a multiunit residential
 
property, including:
 
                                     (A)    concierge services;
 
                                     (B)    a library;
 
                                     (C)    common dining services;
 
                                     (D)    housekeeping services; and
 
                                     (E)    full-time security.
 
                         (2)     "Resident" means an individual who resides in a
 
senior living facility as a unit owner or tenant.
 
                         (3)     "Senior living contract" means a contract with a
 
resident of a senior living facility for providing a common amenity
 
to the resident.
 
                         (4)     "Senior living facility" means a residential
 
facility or a portion of a residential facility that:
 
                                     (A)    is managed by a single entity;
 
                                     (B)     requires a resident to be 55 years of age or
 
older;
 
                                     (C)     contains not fewer than 20 residential units
 
in one or more multiunit buildings that are available to rent or
 
lease;
 
                                     (D)     is located on a single lot or tract of land or
 
on multiple contiguous lots or tracts of land; and
 
                                     (E)    provides common amenities.
 
                         (5)     "Unit" means a physical portion of a residential
 
property designated for separate ownership or occupancy.
 
             Sec.  95.002.    EXEMPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to:
 
                         (1)     a health care institution as defined by Section
 
74.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
 
                         (2)     a boarding home facility as defined by Section
 
260.001, Health and Safety Code, that holds a permit issued under
 
Chapter 260, Health and Safety Code;
 
                         (3)     a supportive housing facility for elderly
 
individuals operated under Section 202, the National Housing Act
 
(12 U.S.C. Section 1701q);
 
                         (4)     a center for independent living as defined by
 
Section 702 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
 
Section 796a); or
 
                         (5)     any other facility that is regulated by the Health
 
and Human Services Commission or in accordance with rules adopted
 
by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
 
             Sec.   95.003.     REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO RESIDENT SAFETY FROM
 
CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. (a)   A senior living facility shall:
 
                         (1)     conduct for each facility employee a criminal
 
history record check using, at a minimum, the computerized criminal
 
history system maintained by the Department of Public Safety of the
 
State of Texas;
 
                         (2)     require each business that provides services to
 
the facility to conduct for each employee of the business who will
 
have access to the facility's premises or residents a criminal
 
history record check using, at a minimum, the computerized criminal
 
history system maintained by the Department of Public Safety of the
 
State of Texas; and
 
                         (3)     report all instances of criminal activity that
 
occur at the facility to a law enforcement officer, including, if
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()