Texas House Bill HB1814

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/5/11
• Voted on by House: 4/15/11
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/12/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/19/11
• Governor Action: 6/17/11
• Report Pass: 5/12/11
• Enrolled: 5/23/11
• Passed: 6/17/11

Caption

Relating to the provision of water and certain equipment by water supply or sewer service corporations for use in fire suppression and the liability of those corporations.

Impact

The legislation modifies Section 67.0105 of the Water Code to expand the capacity of corporations in supplying essential resources for firefighting. By delineating these responsibilities, the bill is likely to improve the efficiency of emergency responses involving fire suppression. Notably, it also clarifies that when such corporations assist in providing water and equipment, the operations are considered essential governmental functions, not proprietary ones, aligning legal liabilities accordingly.

Summary

House Bill 1814 seeks to enhance the framework under which water supply or sewer service corporations provide water and certain equipment for fire suppression purposes. Specifically, the bill allows these corporations to enter into contracts with governmental entities or volunteer fire departments, emphasizing that such arrangements should be mutually beneficial. This move is intended to formalize and clarify the relationship between these service providers and the entities they support in fire emergencies.

Contention

While the bill aims at strengthening fire suppression infrastructure, there are potential points of contention regarding liability. The liability section states that corporations supplying water or equipment may only be liable to the same extent as the governmental entities they assist. This may concern certain stakeholders who fear it could limit accountability during emergencies. Discussions may emerge around whether this effectively protects service providers without diminishing the duties of local governments in providing adequate fire protection services.