BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1138 89R21773 SCL-D By: Miles Health & Human Services 4/8/2025 Committee Report (Substituted) AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Background: 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 an emergency response. Key Provisions: Requires municipal police, fire, and emergency medical departments to develop formal response policies for group home emergencies. Ensures that emergency response procedures address the unique needs of group home residents. Mandates that policies apply to all group homes, regardless of licensing status. Improves coordination and response times to enhance the safety of group home residents. Only applies to municipalities located in a counties with over 300,000 people, and counties themselves if they have over 300,000 people. C.S.S.B. 1138 amends current law relating to first responder policies for emergencies occurring at a group home in certain municipalities and counties. 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 Chapter 370, Local Government Code, by adding Section 370.010, as follows: Sec. 370 . 010. GROUP HOME POLICIES IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. (a) Defines "group home." (b) Provides that this section applies only to a municipality wholly or partly located in a county with a population of more than 300,000 and a county with a population of more than 300,000. (c) Requires a municipal or county law enforcement agency, a municipal or county fire department, and any other municipal or county 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 or county 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 . Provides that it is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, that the amendments made by this Act to Chapter 370, Local Government Code, be harmonized with another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1 , 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 1138
89R21773 SCL-D By: Miles
Health & Human Services
4/8/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 1138
89R21773 SCL-D
By: Miles
Health & Human Services
4/8/2025
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Background:
* 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 an emergency response.
Key Provisions:
Requires municipal police, fire, and emergency medical departments to develop formal response policies for group home emergencies.
Ensures that emergency response procedures address the unique needs of group home residents.
Mandates that policies apply to all group homes, regardless of licensing status.
Improves coordination and response times to enhance the safety of group home residents.
Only applies to municipalities located in a counties with over 300,000 people, and counties themselves if they have over 300,000 people.
C.S.S.B. 1138 amends current law relating to first responder policies for emergencies occurring at a group home in certain municipalities and counties.
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 Chapter 370, Local Government Code, by adding Section 370.010, as follows:
Sec. 370 . 010. GROUP HOME POLICIES IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES. (a) Defines "group home."
(b) Provides that this section applies only to a municipality wholly or partly located in a county with a population of more than 300,000 and a county with a population of more than 300,000.
(c) Requires a municipal or county law enforcement agency, a municipal or county fire department, and any other municipal or county 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 or county 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 . Provides that it is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, that the amendments made by this Act to Chapter 370, Local Government Code, be harmonized with another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1 , 2025.