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

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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

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86R32350 AAF-D
By: Kolkhorst, et al. S.B. No. 6
(Morrison)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 6: No.

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, and 418.057
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 any other state
agencies selected by the division, 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, including information on preparing for
debris removal before 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. 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 composed
of representatives of the division, any other state agencies
selected by the division, and local and federal governmental
entities.
(c) The chief of the division serves as chair of the study
group.
(d) 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.
(e) Not later than November 1, 2020, the study group shall
submit a report containing recommendations on the issues described
by Subsection (d) to each member of the legislature.
(f) The study group is abolished and this section expires
January 1, 2021.
Sec. 418.057. 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, emergency management coordinators, and any
other emergency management personnel.
(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, emergency management coordinators,
and any other emergency management personnel to effectively oversee
the response to and recovery from a disaster;
(2) review training courses that are required for
emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators,
and any other emergency management personnel in this state on
September 1, 2019; and
(3) 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 include in any recommended emergency
management training under Subdivision (2) information on disaster
finance, damage assessment, disaster contracting, debris
management, and the 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 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. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Health and Human Services
Commission.
(2) "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency
Management.
(b) The commission and the division shall conduct a study to
determine the feasibility of developing:
(1) a single intake form that would compile all
information needed to obtain disaster assistance from multiple
state and federal programs for an individual who needs assistance
as a result of a disaster; and
(2) an automated intake system for collecting the
information.
(c) The commission and the division shall coordinate with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other appropriate state
and federal agencies to conduct the study under Subsection (b) of
this section. The commission and the division must determine
whether the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other
appropriate state and federal agencies will accept the single
intake form.
(d) Not later than September 1, 2020, the commission and the
division shall prepare and submit a written report to the
legislature containing the findings of the study conducted under
Subsection (b) of this section and any recommendations to the
legislature.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 4. 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 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.