HBA-NRS H.B. 1803 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1803 By: Salinas Civil Practices 4/3/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Volunteer emergency medical services and volunteer fire departments are facing strains in resources and response time to handle emergencies with the increasing shortage of personnel. Furthermore, volunteer emergency medical services and volunteer fire departments have trouble recruiting potential volunteers who fear being sued for actions they may take during the course of performing their duties. House Bill 1803 provides that volunteer fire fighters and volunteer emergency medical services personnel are not liable in damages for any act or omission in the performance of their duties RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1803 amends the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to provide that volunteer fire fighters and volunteer emergency medical services personnel are not liable in damages for any act or omission in the performance of their duties. The bill provides that protection from such liability does not apply to an act or omission of the fire fighter or emergency medical services personnel that constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. The bill also provides that volunteer emergency medical services personnel are not liable for damage to property resulting from reasonable and necessary action in fighting or extinguishing a fire or in providing emergency medical services while on the property. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.