The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to establish new requirements for emergency preparedness and contingency operations plans specifically for senior retirement communities. It introduces Section 786.004, which mandates that these communities create and implement plans that include providing an "area of refuge" during power outages, ensuring a minimum of 15 square feet per resident, and notifying the local fire marshal of any unplanned power interruptions lasting over 12 hours. Additionally, the plans must maintain a temperature between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit in these areas. Senior retirement communities are also required to undergo annual inspections by the local fire marshal to verify compliance with these new regulations.

Furthermore, the bill amends the Utilities Code to clarify that the purpose of certain funding initiatives includes supporting backup power solutions for facilities that contribute to the health, safety, and well-being of communities, explicitly mentioning senior retirement communities. The enforcement provisions allow municipalities, counties, or emergency services districts to impose penalties on communities that fail to comply with the new requirements, treating such violations similarly to breaches of fire codes. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

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