Bill Text: TX HB2305 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to a work group on enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management personnel.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-10 - Effective on 9/1/19 [HB2305 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB2305-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 2305
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to a work group on enhancing the training and
  credentialing of emergency management personnel.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section
  418.004, Government Code.
               (2)  "Emergency management director" and "emergency
  management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator,
  respectively, designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code.
               (3)  "Work group" means the work group established
  under Section 2 of this Act.
         SECTION 2.  WORK GROUP. The Texas Division of Emergency
  Management shall establish a work group of persons knowledgeable on
  emergency management to study and develop a proposal for enhancing
  the training and credentialing of emergency management directors,
  emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management
  personnel on the state or local level.
         SECTION 3.  STUDY AND PROPOSAL. (a)  As part of the study and
  proposal under Section 2 of this Act, the work group shall:
               (1)  assess the training and credentials necessary for
  emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators,
  and other emergency management personnel on the state or local
  level to effectively oversee the response to and recovery from a
  disaster, including reviewing current required training courses;
  and
               (2)  consult with institutions of higher education, as
  defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, on the development of
  degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs
  that exist in this state on the effective date of this Act.
         (b)  In conducting the assessment required by Subsection
  (a)(1) of this section, the work group shall consider:
               (1)  whether the differences in geography, population,
  and critical infrastructure between emergency management
  directors' or emergency management coordinators' jurisdictions
  warrant different levels of training and credentialing;
               (2)  whether the legislature should enact laws
  requiring an emergency management director or emergency management
  coordinator to participate in emergency management training and
  credentialing before overseeing the response to and recovery from a
  disaster;
               (3)  whether to include in any training required under
  Subdivision (2) of this subsection information on disaster finance,
  damage assessment, disaster contracting, debris management, and
  skills needed to participate in federal emergency management
  programs;
               (4)  whether to implement incentives for emergency
  management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any
  other emergency management personnel to complete additional
  training and continuing education; and
               (5)  proposals for paying the cost for training for
  emergency management directors and emergency management
  coordinators that is more rigorous than the training required by
  law for the directors and coordinators on the effective date of this
  Act.
         (c)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall
  submit the proposal required under this section to:
               (1)  members of the legislature; and
               (2)  the governor.
         SECTION 4.  EXPIRATION. The work group is abolished and this
  Act expires January 1, 2021.
         SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2305 was passed by the House on April
  11, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2305 was passed by the Senate on May
  22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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