By: Toth H.B. No. 4196
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the definition of an authorized emergency vehicle.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 541.201, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (1)(L) to read as follow:
(1) "Authorized emergency vehicle" means:
(A) a fire department or police vehicle;
(B) a public or private ambulance operated by a
person who has been issued a license by the Department of State
Health Services;
(C) an emergency medical services vehicle:
(i) authorized under an emergency medical
services provider license issued by the Department of State Health
Services under Chapter 773, Health and Safety Code; and
(ii) operating under a contract with an
emergency services district that requires the emergency medical
services provider to respond to emergency calls with the vehicle;
(D) a municipal department or public service
corporation emergency vehicle that has been designated or
authorized by the governing body of a municipality;
(E) a county-owned or county-leased emergency
management vehicle that has been designated or authorized by the
commissioners court;
(F) a vehicle that has been designated by the
department under Section 546.0065;
(G) a private vehicle of a volunteer firefighter
or a certified emergency medical services employee or volunteer
when responding to a fire alarm or medical emergency;
(H) an industrial emergency response vehicle,
including an industrial ambulance, when responding to an emergency,
but only if the vehicle is operated in compliance with criteria in
effect September 1, 1989, and established by the predecessor of the
Texas Industrial Emergency Services Board of the State Firemen's
and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas;
(I) a vehicle of a blood bank or tissue bank,
accredited or approved under the laws of this state or the United
States, when making emergency deliveries of blood, drugs,
medicines, or organs;
(J) a vehicle used for law enforcement purposes
that is owned or leased by a federal governmental entity; or
(K) a private vehicle of an employee or volunteer
of a county emergency management division in a county with a
population of more than 46,500 and less than 48,000 that is
designated as an authorized emergency vehicle by the commissioners
court of that county.
(L) a county road maintenance vehicle.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.