The bill, titled "An Act relating to emergency preparedness and contingency operations plans, inspections, and enforcement for senior retirement communities," introduces new requirements for senior retirement communities in Texas regarding their emergency preparedness plans. It mandates that these communities adopt and implement a contingency operations plan that includes the establishment of an "area of refuge" for residents during power outages, ensuring at least 15 square feet of space per resident. Additionally, the bill requires communities to notify the local fire marshal of any unplanned power interruptions lasting more than 12 hours and maintain a temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the designated areas of refuge.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that senior retirement communities must undergo annual inspections by the local fire marshal to verify compliance with these new requirements. The fire marshal is tasked with reviewing the community's emergency power components, ensuring the operational status of secondary power supplies, documenting deficiencies, and issuing corrective orders as necessary. Municipalities, counties, or emergency services districts are granted the authority to impose penalties for violations of these provisions, treating them similarly to violations of applicable fire codes. The bill also expands the purpose of a related subchapter in the Utilities Code to include facilities operated by senior retirement communities in the context of ensuring the reliability of the electric power grid.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Utilities Code 34.0202 (Utilities Code 34)