BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1138 89R10302 SCL-D By: Miles Health & Human Services 3/29/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Municipal emergency services often lack standardized protocols for responding to emergencies at group homes, which can delay critical assistance and compromise resident safety. The absence of clear policies creates inconsistencies in emergency response, especially for unlicensed group homes. Municipal police, fire, and emergency medical departments must establish clear policies to ensure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies at group homes, regardless of licensing status. These policies should address the unique needs of group home residents and facilitate faster, more efficient emergency care. S.B. 1138 requires municipal emergency services to develop formal response policies for group home emergencies. Departments must establish procedures tailored to the nature of group homes, ensuring a structured and efficient approach to emergency situations. This will improve coordination, reduce response time, and enhance the safety of group home residents. As proposed, S.B. 1138 amends current law relating to municipal first responder policies for emergencies occurring at a group home. 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 Subtitle A, Title 11, Local Government Code, by adding Chapter 349, as follows: CHAPTER 349. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATED TO MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SAFETY Sec. 349.001. GROUP HOME POLICIES. (a) Defines "group home." (b) Requires a municipal police department, a municipal fire department, and any other municipal department providing emergency medical services to develop policies to respond to an emergency occurring at a group home, regardless of whether the group home holds a license. Requires a municipal department, in developing a policy under this subsection, to establish any procedures necessary for an efficient response to an emergency after considering the nature of group homes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1138
89R10302 SCL-D By: Miles
Health & Human Services
3/29/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1138
89R10302 SCL-D
By: Miles
Health & Human Services
3/29/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Municipal emergency services often lack standardized protocols for responding to emergencies at group homes, which can delay critical assistance and compromise resident safety. The absence of clear policies creates inconsistencies in emergency response, especially for unlicensed group homes.
Municipal police, fire, and emergency medical departments must establish clear policies to ensure a coordinated and effective response to emergencies at group homes, regardless of licensing status. These policies should address the unique needs of group home residents and facilitate faster, more efficient emergency care.
S.B. 1138 requires municipal emergency services to develop formal response policies for group home emergencies. Departments must establish procedures tailored to the nature of group homes, ensuring a structured and efficient approach to emergency situations. This will improve coordination, reduce response time, and enhance the safety of group home residents.
As proposed, S.B. 1138 amends current law relating to municipal first responder policies for emergencies occurring at a group home.
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 Subtitle A, Title 11, Local Government Code, by adding Chapter 349, as follows:
CHAPTER 349. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATED TO MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SAFETY
Sec. 349.001. GROUP HOME POLICIES. (a) Defines "group home."
(b) Requires a municipal police department, a municipal fire department, and any other municipal department providing emergency medical services to develop policies to respond to an emergency occurring at a group home, regardless of whether the group home holds a license. Requires a municipal department, in developing a policy under this subsection, to establish any procedures necessary for an efficient response to an emergency after considering the nature of group homes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.