BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1715 81R10421 PMO-D By: West Business & Commerce 4/5/2009 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Currently, Chapter 92 (Residential Tenancies) of the Property Code requires landlords to install smoke detectors, but only those which would alert a hearing person. As proposed, S.B. 1715 requires landlords to install smoke detectors that are capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms the detectors serve. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 92.254(a), Property Code, to require that a smoke detector be designed with an alarm that is audible to a person with a normal range of hearing and is capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms it serves. SECTION 2. Provides that Section 92.254(a), Property Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a smoke detector installed under Subchapter F (Smoke Detectors), Chapter 92, Property Code, on or after September 1, 2009. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1715
81R10421 PMO-D By: West
Business & Commerce
4/5/2009
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, Chapter 92 (Residential Tenancies) of the Property Code requires landlords to install smoke detectors, but only those which would alert a hearing person.
As proposed, S.B. 1715 requires landlords to install smoke detectors that are capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms the detectors serve.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 92.254(a), Property Code, to require that a smoke detector be designed with an alarm that is audible to a person with a normal range of hearing and is capable of alerting a hearing-impaired person in the bedrooms it serves.
SECTION 2. Provides that Section 92.254(a), Property Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a smoke detector installed under Subchapter F (Smoke Detectors), Chapter 92, Property Code, on or after September 1, 2009.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.