By: Burrows, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 2082          (In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2017;   May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on Business &   Commerce; May 21, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:     Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2017, sent to printer.)Click here to see the committee vote     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT     relating to the designation of a liaison to assist first responders   with workers' compensation claims.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 404, Labor Code, is   amended by adding Section 404.1525 to read as follows:          Sec. 404.1525.  FIRST RESPONDER LIAISON. (a)  In this   section, "first responder" has the meaning assigned by Section   504.055.          (b)  The public counsel shall designate an employee of the   office to act as first responder liaison.          (c)  The first responder liaison shall assist an injured   first responder and, if applicable, the ombudsman assigned to the   first responder's case, during a workers' compensation   administrative dispute resolution process.          (d)  The first responder liaison:                (1)  must meet the qualifications for designation as an   ombudsman under this subchapter; and                (2)  is subject to the training and education   requirements for an ombudsman under this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  Section 404.153, Labor Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:          (a-1)  An employer that employs first responders or   supervises volunteer first responders shall notify the first   responders of the first responder liaison in the manner prescribed   by the office.  In this subsection, "first responder" has the   meaning assigned by Section 504.055.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.     * * * * *