SB1283

The required safety-and-communications policy must provide for written notices sent to each resident and conspicuously posted where other community notices appear. Known reports of potential criminal activity made to law enforcement from or at the community must be disclosed within two business days after the report is made. Known criminal trespassing must be disclosed within two business days after it is reported or occurs. These are notices of reports or incidents, not findings that a named person has been convicted. Personal identifying information may be removed, but privacy concerns alone cannot justify withholding the notice. Final law, section 786.003(a)(3)–(b).

A community may not stop, discourage or penalize a resident’s safety-related communication with law enforcement, a social worker, family or another interested person. It also may not prevent a law-enforcement or court officer from entering a common area for a voluntary resident interview in a criminal investigation at the community. This provision does not authorize compelled interviews or unrestricted entry into private units. Final law, section 786.003(d).

The Senate substitute broadened the qualifying community definition to include units available to own, removed the illustrative amenity list while keeping the general definition, limited contractor disclosure to businesses hired by the community, tied the crime-report deadline to the report date rather than the activity date, and specified “criminal” trespassing. Those changes survive in the final law; the Senate-passed, House committee and enrolled substantive text match the substitute. The official amendment index lists no separate amendments. Introduced bill; Senate substitute; Senate-passed bill; House committee text; Text-version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Covered residents gain notices and protection for raising safety concerns; operators must maintain the checking, disclosure and communications processes. The act shields the community from civil or criminal liability for compliance with the employee-check or notice-policy requirements. That is not blanket immunity for all conduct or noncompliance. The act does not create a dedicated fine schedule, guarantee a crime-free community, or establish measured safety benefits. Final law, section 786.003.

The April 7 introduced and April 17 substitute fiscal notes anticipate no significant fiscal impact on state or local government and assume state costs can be absorbed with existing resources. Neither supplies a dollar estimate of private operators’ compliance costs or possible effects on residents’ fees. The act makes no appropriation. Introduced fiscal note; Substitute fiscal note; Final law.