Texas House Bill HB3628

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 5/4/09
• Voted on by House: 5/12/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/23/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/27/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/31/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the date by which the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation must require compliance with certain elevator safety standards.

Impact

The implications of HB3628 extend to the safety regulations governing elevators within Texas, particularly those installed before the adjustments to the ASME codes. By granting the executive director the authority to set compliance deadlines, the bill aims to enhance safety without imposing immediate and potentially burdensome requirements on facilities that may not have been informed of the earlier code changes.

Summary

House Bill 3628 focuses on updating the compliance schedule for elevator safety standards under the Texas Health and Safety Code. Specifically, the bill mandates that the executive director of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation establish new deadlines for compliance with certain safety requirements, particularly revolving around door restrictors and firefighter service as outlined in the ASME Code A17.3. This adjustment is in response to provisions that were not included in earlier versions of the ASME Code A17.1 during the installations of certain elevators, thus allowing a delay in compliance for affected units.

Contention

Discussion around the bill has raised important questions regarding the balance between necessary safety regulations and the practicalities of enforcement. Some stakeholders are concerned that delaying compliance may lead to increased risks in elevator safety, particularly if older installations are not updated promptly. However, supporters argue that this flexibility allows property owners to make adjustments in a manageable timeframe, thereby avoiding unnecessary fines or penalties for regulations that were not applied to their equipment at the time of installation.