Miles’s bill keeps senior living elevators running after outages

The text as introduced · 225 words

89R8966 LRM-D

By: Miles
S.B. No. 1139

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the operability of elevators and related equipment

following a power outage at a senior independent living community;

authorizing an administrative penalty.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 754, Health and Safety Code, is amended

by adding Section 754.0142 to read as follows:

Sec. 754.0142. EQUIPMENT OPERABILITY FOLLOWING POWER

OUTAGE AT SENIOR INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY. (a) In this

section, "senior independent living community" means a multifamily

residential facility occupied by or intended for occupancy by

residents who are 55 years of age or older.

(b) A senior independent living community that operates

equipment subject to this chapter shall contract with an outside

vendor to maintain the equipment's operability within 72 hours of

the time a power outage begins.

(c) The department shall assess an administrative penalty

in accordance with Subchapter F, Chapter 51, Occupations Code,

against a senior independent living community found in violation of

this section. Notwithstanding Section 51.302, Occupations Code,

the amount of the administrative penalty imposed under this section

may not exceed:

(1) $1,000 per day for the first five days of

noncompliance; and

(2) $5,000 per day for each day of noncompliance after

the initial five days of noncompliance.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.