Push to Require Backup Generators at Senior Living Communities After Texas Winter Storm

In the wake of February's winter storm in Texas, state lawmakers have proposed legislation to address problems that led to days-long power outages, with the latest push to keep power and heat on at senior living communities, reports KXAN . Rep. Ed Thompson (R) filed a bill requiring nursing and assisted-living communities to have a generator or another comparable backup power supply on-site in anticipation of future weather events or outages. Texas Long-term Care Ombudsman Patty Ducayet testified for the measure, noting that 56 assisted-living communities had to evacuate residents, while nine had backup power sources. However, Rep. Candy Noble (R) questioned Thompson about the logistics of implementing the bill's mandates at communities of different sizes and in different locations, and Rep. James Frank (R) echoed her concerns about who foots the bill. Doug Bray with nursing community operator Caraday Healthcare estimated that generators required by the proposal would cost anywhere from $200,000 to $500,000 per community. While Thompson stated he was willing to work with operators to find a feasible solution, he was adamant that "for the benefit of all Texans, it must be done." Texas has slightly more than 2,000 assisted-living communities, and Ducayet's data indicated that 27 skilled nursing communities evacuated residents, while 176 relied on generators to sustain power.