The bill, S.B. No. 1800, aims to establish a new criminal offense related to the abandonment of residents in assisted living facilities during declared states of disaster. It introduces Section 247.073 to the Health and Safety Code, defining "abandon" as leaving a resident without providing necessary care under circumstances where a reasonable person would not do so. The bill specifies that operators of assisted living facilities in disaster areas who abandon residents or allow employees to do so will be committing an offense.

The offense is classified as a state jail felony, with escalated penalties based on the severity of harm caused to the resident. If the resident suffers bodily injury, the offense becomes a felony of the third degree; if serious bodily injury occurs, it escalates to a felony of the second degree; and if the resident dies as a result, it is classified as a felony of the first degree. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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