Bill Text: TX SB6 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to emergency and disaster management, response, and recovery.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 14-7)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-13 - Effective on 9/1/19 [SB6 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB6-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Kolkhorst, et al.  S.B. No. 6
         (In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2019; March 7, 2019, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Water & Rural Affairs;
  March 14, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; March 14, 2019,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 6 By:  Kolkhorst
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to emergency and disaster management, response, and
  recovery.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.005, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  The training course provided under this section
  related to the emergency management responsibilities of officers of
  political subdivisions must include training based on the disaster
  response guide as required by Section 418.054(b).
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 418.054, 418.055, 418.056, 418.057, and
  418.058 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.054.  DISASTER RESPONSE GUIDE. (a)  The division
  shall develop a model guide for local officials regarding disaster
  response and recovery.  The guide must provide a comprehensive
  approach to disaster recovery by local officials and include
  information on:
               (1)  contracting for debris removal;
               (2)  obtaining federal disaster funding;
               (3)  coordinating the availability and construction of
  short-term and long-term housing; and
               (4)  obtaining assistance from local, state, and
  federal volunteer organizations.
         (b)  The division, in coordination with the Texas A&M
  AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension
  Service, shall provide training based on the disaster response
  guide as a part of the emergency management training course
  provided under Section 418.005.
         Sec. 418.055.  CATASTROPHIC DEBRIS MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
  TRAINING. (a)  The division, in consultation with the Emergency
  Management Council, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the
  Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality, the Texas Department of Transportation, the
  comptroller, and political subdivisions, shall develop a
  catastrophic debris management plan and model guide for use by
  political subdivisions in the event of a disaster.
         (b)  The plan must:
               (1)   provide a guide for clearance and disposal of
  debris caused by a disaster; and
               (2)  include:
                     (A)  provisions for the use of trench burners and
  air curtain incinerators of vegetative debris, including
  identifying sources of equipment for use immediately following a
  disaster; and
                     (B)  contracting standards and a model contract
  for use in procuring debris removal services following a disaster.
         (c)  The division shall consult with the comptroller about
  including a contract for debris removal services on the schedule of
  multiple award contracts developed under Subchapter I, Chapter
  2155, or in another cooperative purchasing program administered by
  the comptroller.
         (d)  The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, in
  coordination with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,
  shall establish a training program for state agencies and political
  subdivisions on the use of trench burners in debris removal.
         Sec. 418.056.  DISASTER RECOVERY TASK FORCE. (a)  The
  division shall develop a disaster recovery task force to operate
  throughout the long-term recovery period following natural and
  man-made disasters by providing specialized assistance for
  communities and individuals to address financial issues, available
  federal assistance programs, and recovery and resiliency planning
  to speed recovery efforts at the local level.
         (b)  The disaster recovery task force may include and use the
  resources of:
               (1)  The Texas A&M University System, including the
  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the Texas A&M Engineering
  Extension Service, and the Texas A&M Forest Service;
               (2)  other appropriate state agencies; and
               (3)  organized volunteer groups.
         (c)  The disaster recovery task force shall develop
  procedures for preparing and issuing a report listing each project
  related to a disaster that qualifies for federal assistance. A
  report must be submitted to the appropriate federal agencies as
  soon as practicable after any disaster.
         (d)  Once each quarter, the disaster recovery task force
  shall brief members of the legislature, legislative staff, and
  state agency personnel on the response and recovery efforts for
  previous disasters and any preparation or planning for potential
  future hazards, threats, or disasters.
         Sec. 418.057.  WET DEBRIS STUDY GROUP. (a)  In this
  section, "study group" means the wet debris study group established
  under this section.
         (b)  The wet debris study group is established and consists
  of the following members:
               (1)  each member of the Emergency Management Council;
               (2)  representatives from river authorities appointed
  by the governor;
               (3)  environmental experts appointed by the governor;
  and
               (4)  a representative from the Texas Historical
  Commission appointed by the governor.
         (c)  The study group shall study issues related to preventing
  the creation of wet debris and best practices for clearing wet
  debris following a disaster, including:
               (1)  the creation of maintenance programs for bodies of
  water in this state;
               (2)  issues related to the clearance of wet debris on
  private property following a disaster; and
               (3)  potential sources of funding for the clearance of
  wet debris following a disaster.
         (d)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the study group shall
  submit a report containing recommendations on the issues described
  by Subsection (c) to each member of the legislature.
         (e)  The study group is abolished and this section expires
  January 1, 2021.
         Sec. 418.058.  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORK GROUP. (a)  In
  this section:
               (1)  "Emergency management director" and "emergency
  management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator,
  respectively, designated under Section 418.1015.
               (2)  "Work group" means the work group established
  under this section.
         (b)  The division 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 and emergency management coordinators.
         (c)  As part of the study and proposal under Subsection (b),
  the work group shall:
               (1)  assess the training and credentials necessary for
  emergency management directors and emergency management
  coordinators to effectively oversee the response to and recovery
  from a disaster; 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 September 1, 2019.
         (d)  In conducting the assessment required by Subsection
  (c)(1), 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 implement incentives for emergency
  management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any
  other emergency management personnel to complete additional
  training and continuing education; and
               (4)  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 September 1, 2019.
         (e)  Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall
  submit the proposal required under this section to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
  members of the legislature.
         (f)  The work group is abolished and this section expires
  January 1, 2021.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas
  Division of Emergency Management shall develop the catastrophic
  debris management plan and model guide required by Section 418.055,
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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