Texas House Bill HB3866

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/20/09
• Voted on by House: 4/29/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/22/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/27/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/30/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to fire safety inspections.

Impact

The legislation impacts the statutes contained in Chapter 419 of the Government Code concerning fire safety. By explicitly defining who can perform fire safety inspections, it establishes a more uniform standard for operational practices statewide. Local governments and municipalities must comply with these new regulations, which could lead to either increased operational costs to train individuals for certification or the potential need to hire external certified inspectors. This change could also affect the availability of inspection services in areas where qualified inspectors are scarce.

Summary

House Bill 3866 addresses the issue of fire safety inspections by establishing requirements around who is authorized to conduct such inspections. Under this bill, only individuals certified by the commission as fire inspectors are allowed to carry out fire safety inspections mandated by state or local laws, rules, and regulations. This aims to ensure that inspections are performed by qualified individuals, enhancing the overall standards of fire safety across Texas. The legislation reinforces the importance of properly trained inspectors and provides a regulatory framework for those wishing to provide inspection services.

Contention

While details on any specific points of contention surrounding the bill were not documented in the available transcripts or discussion snippets, we can infer potential opposition from groups advocating for simplified regulations or from small businesses concerned about the costs associated with compliance and hiring certified inspectors. There may also be discussions regarding the adequacy of state oversight versus local autonomy in conducting fire safety inspections, as local entities might have differing standards or needs based on their unique fire safety challenges.