Relating to fire safety inspections at public and private schools.

89(R) HB 4685 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R17326 GP-F

By: Leach, et al.

H.B. No. 4685

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4685:

By: Bell of Montgomery

C.S.H.B. No. 4685

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to fire safety inspections at public and private schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 419.029, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 419.029. TRAINING CURRICULUM.
(a)
The commission may

establish minimum curriculum requirements for preparatory,

in-service, and advanced courses and programs for a school operated

by or for this state or a local government specifically for training

fire protection personnel or recruits.

(b)

The minimum curriculum requirements established by the

commission under Subsection (a) must require training on conducting

a fire safety inspection at a public or private school in accordance

with Section 419.909.

SECTION 2. Section 419.909, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (b-3) to read as follows:

(b-1)

A fire safety inspection of a public or private

school, including an open-enrollment charter school, required by a

state or local law, rule, regulation, or ordinance must include an

examination of each automated external defibrillator, as defined by

Section 779.001, Health and Safety Code, on the school campus to

determine whether the defibrillator is fully functional, which must

include verifying that that defibrillator's pads and battery have

not expired and that the defibrillator's status indicator light

indicates that the device is ready for use. A representative of the

school campus shall present each automated external defibrillator

for inspection.

(b-2)

A person who conducts a fire safety inspection

described by Subsection (b-1) must:

(1)

provide a written report of the inspection and any

relevant paperwork pertaining to the findings of the inspection to:

(A)

if the inspection is of a public school, the

principal of the school and the superintendent of the applicable

school district; or

(B)

if the inspection is of a private school, the

director of the school; and

(2)

at the time the person provides the report as

required by Subdivision (1), indicate on the report the method by

which, and the time and date on which, the person provided the

report to the appropriate person under that subdivision.

(b-3)

The report required under Subsection (b-2) must be

filed:

(1)

at the school campus to which the report relates;

and

(2)

according to the year in which the inspection

occurred.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.