89R12463 AND-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 3696
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision by railroad companies of hazardous
material incident training to certain fire and emergency medical
personnel and peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 193, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Section 193.003 to read as follows:
Sec. 193.003. HAZARDOUS MATERIAL INCIDENT TRAINING FOR FIRE
AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND PEACE OFFICERS. (a) At least
quarterly, a railroad company subject to Section 193.002 shall
offer training on the handling of incidents related to hazardous
materials of the type the company transports to:
(1) fire protection personnel, as defined by Section
419.021, Government Code;
(2) volunteer firefighters certified by the Texas
Commission on Fire Protection or the State Firefighters' and Fire
Marshals' Association of Texas;
(3) emergency medical services personnel certified by
the Department of State Health Services who:
(A) are not affiliated with a hospital; and
(B) serve geographic areas not served by:
(i) a municipal fire department under
Chapter 342, Local Government Code; or
(ii) a county fire department under Chapter
352, Local Government Code; and
(4) peace officers, as defined by Article 2A.001, Code
of Criminal Procedure.
(b) Training under Subsection (a) must:
(1) be provided at the railroad company's expense;
(2) be substantially similar to training provided by a
company employee under Section 193.002(c)(5); and
(3) on request, accommodate virtual participation.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Transportation Commission shall adopt rules
as necessary to implement Section 193.003, Transportation Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.