Bill Text: TX HB1970 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the disaster identification system for a state of disaster.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-04-14 - Left pending in committee [HB1970 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB1970-Introduced.html

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84R7972 SCL-F
By: Martinez H.B. No. 1970

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the disaster identification system
for a state of disaster.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
(3-a) "Illuminated display" means a device that:
(A) displays blue, green, red, and yellow colors;
(B) provides continuous illumination for at
least 72 hours;
(C) displays a flashing and a steady light;
(D) is reusable; and
(E) is water-resistant up to 30 feet.
SECTION 2. Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of
disaster:
(1) activates the disaster recovery and
rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan
applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [and]
(2) authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to
which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies,
equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or
arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law
relating to disasters; and
(3) activates for the area subject to the declaration
the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0155.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.0155 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.0155. DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an
area subject to a declaration of a state of disaster under Section
418.014, a person may use an illuminated display to communicate
with disaster relief personnel. A person who elects to participate
in the disaster identification system shall:
(1) affix to each individual and domesticated animal
in the person's household an illuminated display of the following
colors:
(A) blue for men 18 years of age or older;
(B) green for women 18 years of age or older;
(C) red for children younger than 18 years of
age; and
(D) yellow for animals; and
(2) using the illuminated display, signal to disaster
relief personnel responding to the area after the disaster with:
(A) a solid light on the display of each
household member who is healthy and not in need of medical
assistance; or
(B) a flashing light on the display of each
household member who is in need of medical assistance.
(b) Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated
disaster area by air at night to locate persons with activated
illuminated displays.
SECTION 4. Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The division shall prepare and keep current a
comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may
include:
(1) provisions for prevention and minimization of
injury and damage caused by disaster;
(2) provisions for prompt and effective response to
disaster;
(3) provisions for emergency relief;
(4) provisions for energy emergencies;
(5) identification of areas particularly vulnerable
to disasters;
(6) recommendations for zoning, building
restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for
securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent
structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures
designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;
(7) provisions for assistance to local officials in
designing local emergency management plans;
(8) authorization and procedures for the erection or
other construction of temporary works designed to protect against
or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other
disaster;
(9) preparation and distribution to the appropriate
state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and
private assistance programs;
(10) organization of manpower and channels of
assistance;
(11) coordination of federal, state, and local
emergency management activities;
(12) coordination of the state emergency management
plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;
(13) coordination of federal and state energy
emergency plans;
(14) provisions for providing information to local
officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established
under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;
(15) a database of public facilities that may be used
under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster,
including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme
heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind
disaster;
(16) provisions for quickly replenishing the food
supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;
(17) provisions for the use of the disaster
identification system described by Section 418.0155; and
(18) [(17)] other necessary matters relating to
disasters.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.