Bill Text: TX HB801 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to planning for the use of and liability resulting from prescribed burns by the Parks and Wildlife Department.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-09 - Effective immediately [HB801 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB801-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 801

AN ACT
relating to planning for the use of and liability resulting from
prescribed burns by the Parks and Wildlife Department.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER M. PRESCRIBED BURNS
Sec. 11.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Landowner" includes any person who owns, has a
property interest in, or leases a parcel of privately owned land or
improvements on the land.
(2) "Utility infrastructure" means any facility owned
by:
(A) an electric utility as "electric utility" is
defined by Section 31.002, Utilities Code;
(B) a telecommunications utility as
"telecommunications utility" is defined by Section 51.002,
Utilities Code;
(C) a gas utility as "gas utility" is defined by
Section 101.003 or 121.001, Utilities Code;
(D) an electric cooperative as "electric
cooperative" is defined by Section 11.003, Utilities Code; or
(E) a municipally owned utility as "municipally
owned utility" is defined by Section 11.003, Utilities Code.
Sec. 11.352. APPLICABILITY. This subchapter applies only
to prescribed burns conducted by the department on state land
managed by the department.
Sec. 11.353. GENERAL AND SPECIFIC PLAN REQUIREMENTS. (a)
The commission by rule shall adopt and shall require the department
to implement a general plan for the use of beneficial prescribed
burns in the management of department land. The general plan must
include standards that meet or exceed the standards for a
prescribed burn set out in Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code.
(b) The general plan must include variations as needed for
different areas of the state.
(c) The general plan must be reviewed by the Prescribed
Burning Board within the Department of Agriculture.
(d) The department may not conduct a prescribed burn under
this subchapter before the general plan has been adopted by the
commission.
(e) For a particular prescribed burn, a site-specific plan
tailored to the designated area must be completed and approved by a
person designated by the director to review prescribed burn plans.
In addition to any site-specific information required under the
general plan, a site-specific plan must include:
(1) the planned start and end dates of the prescribed
burn;
(2) a map of the designated burn area, including the
location of any utility infrastructure within the designated burn
area;
(3) the names and contact numbers for:
(A) the prescribed burn manager;
(B) the nearest fire departments or emergency
service providers; and
(C) all landowners whose property neighbors the
designated burn area; and
(4) written documentation that applicable prescribed
burn notification and approval requirements of the Texas Commission
on Environmental Quality have been met.
Sec. 11.354. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The department shall
provide adequate advance notice of the department's intent to
conduct a prescribed burn to each neighboring landowner and
appropriate local officials in the vicinity of the designated burn
area, including water utility officials with water facilities
within two miles of the prescribed burn.
(b) The landowner's notice must include:
(1) the planned start and end dates of the prescribed
burn;
(2) any safety precautions the landowner should take
to ensure the safety of the landowner's property before, during,
and after the burn;
(3) a map of the prescribed burn area, including the
location of any utility infrastructure within the designated burn
area;
(4) the methods proposed for use in conducting the
burn; and
(5) contact information for the prescribed burn
manager and the department.
(c) The department shall publish advance notice of a planned
prescribed burn in a newspaper of general circulation in the county
or counties in which the burn will be conducted.
Sec. 11.355. INSURANCE. The department shall purchase
liability insurance or establish a self-insurance fund as provided
by Subchapter B, Chapter 2259, Government Code, for liability
coverage for money damages in the amounts specified by Section
153.082, Natural Resources Code, to protect the department and the
department's employees against claims under this subchapter
resulting from:
(1) bodily injury or death resulting from a prescribed
burn; or
(2) injury to or destruction of property resulting
from a prescribed burn.
Sec. 11.356. LIABILITY. The department is liable for
actual damages for:
(1) injury to or destruction of property, bodily
injury, or death proximately caused by the wrongful act or omission
or the negligence of an employee acting within the scope of
employment if:
(A) the injury to or destruction of property,
bodily injury, or death arises from the escape of fire from a
prescribed burn conducted by the department; and
(B) the employee would be personally liable to
the claimant according to Texas law;
(2) injury to or destruction of property, bodily
injury, or death so caused by the escape of fire from a prescribed
burn conducted by the department if the department would, were it a
private person, be liable to the claimant according to Texas law;
and
(3) injury to or destruction of utility infrastructure
caused by a prescribed burn.
Sec. 11.357. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF LIABILITY. Liability
of the department under this subchapter is limited to money damages
in an amount not to exceed the amount paid by the insurance provider
described by Section 11.355 to the claimant
.
Sec. 11.358. APPLICATION OF TORT CLAIMS ACT. (a) A claim
asserted under this subchapter may not also be asserted against the
department under Subchapter B, Chapter 101, Civil Practice and
Remedies Code, or against a department employee.
(b) Subchapter D, Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies
Code, applies to a suit brought under this subchapter.
Sec. 11.359. WAIVER OF GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY; PERMISSION TO
SUE. (a) Sovereign immunity to suit is waived and abolished to the
extent of liability created by this subchapter.
(b) A person having a claim under this subchapter may sue
the department for damages allowed by this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The Parks and Wildlife Commission shall adopt a
general plan for prescribed burns on land managed by the Parks and
Wildlife Department as provided by Section 11.353, Parks and
Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2016.
SECTION 3. This Act applies only to a claim for damages
resulting from a prescribed burn conducted by the Parks and
Wildlife Department on or after the effective date of this Act. A
claim for damages resulting from a prescribed burn conducted by the
Parks and Wildlife Department before the effective date of this Act
is governed by the law in effect on the first day of the prescribed
burn, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 801 was passed by the House on April
9, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 801 on May 23, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 129, Nays 0, 2
present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 801 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor