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Enrolled Bill Summary

Enrolled Bill Summary

Legislative Session: 86(R)

Senate Bill 6

Senate Author:  Kolkhorst et al.

Effective:  9-1-19

House Sponsor:  Morrison


            Senate Bill 6 amends the Government Code to set out provisions relating to emergency and disaster management, response, and recovery. Among other provisions, the bill does the following:

·         establishes the wet debris study group to study issues related to preventing the creation of wet debris and best practices for clearing wet debris following a disaster;

·         requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to establish an emergency management work group to study and develop a proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management directors and coordinators;

·         provides for the creation of a disaster recovery loan program by TDEM to use money to provide short‑term loans for disaster recovery projects to eligible political subdivisions;

·         requires TDEM to develop a model guide for local officials regarding disaster response and recovery and to provide training on the disaster response guide as part of existing emergency management training to political subdivision officers;

·         requires TDEM to develop a catastrophic debris management plan and model guide for use by political subdivisions in the event of a disaster; and

·         requires the Health and Human Services Commission and TDEM to conduct a study determining the feasibility of developing a single intake form and an automated intake system for compiling and collecting information individuals would need to obtain disaster assistance from multiple state and federal programs.

Implementation of a provision of the bill establishing the disaster recovery loan program by TDEM is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose.