HBA-JEK H.B. 818 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 818
By: Noriega
Urban Affairs
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The mayor of Houston chartered the Tri Data Corporation to study the
efficiency and effectiveness of the Houston Fire Department in January,
2000.  The Tri Data Corporation report concluded that while engines and
ladder trucks are nominally staffed with a crew of four, two-thirds to
three-fourths of the engines and ladder trucks in the Houston Fire
Department operate with a crew of three each day.  Two additional reports
published in the last two years also emphasized the same concerns about the
need to meet minimum manning standards for Houston Fire Department
vehicles.  House Bill 818 sets forth staffing requirements for each engine,
rescue truck, hazardous material unit, airport rescue unit, or ladder truck
used by a fire department in a municipality with a population of 1.5
million or more. 

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 818 amends the Local Government Code to set forth requirements
for minimum staffing of each engine, rescue truck, hazardous material unit,
airport rescue unit, or ladder truck placed in operation during a shift by
a fire department in a municipality with a population of 1.5 million or
more. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.