The proposed bill, titled the Senior Independent Living Protection Act, aims to enhance the health and safety standards of senior independent living communities in Texas. It introduces a new section to the Government Code, establishing a statewide database that will include health and safety plans submitted by these communities. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is tasked with maintaining this database and ensuring it is accessible to emergency response agencies. Additionally, the bill allows for administrative penalties against communities that fail to comply with health and safety plan requirements. The information in the database is deemed confidential and exempt from public disclosure.

Furthermore, the bill outlines specific definitions related to senior independent living communities and mandates that these communities prepare and maintain health and safety policies, which must be updated annually. It also stipulates that these communities must be equipped with operational emergency generators to ensure resident safety during power outages. The legislation includes provisions for civil penalties for violations and clarifies that senior independent living communities are not to be confused with assisted living or nursing facilities. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with a compliance grace period until January 1, 2026, for certain provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Subtitle B, Title , Health and Safety Code 786.003, Utilities Code 38.072 (Subtitle B, Title , Health and Safety Code 786, Utilities Code 38)