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Senate Bill 982 |
Senate Author: Kolkhorst et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-19 |
House Sponsor: Zerwas |
Senate Bill 982 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to do the following with respect to the provision of disaster and emergency services:
· develop a plan to increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters in the provision of shelter and care for specialty care populations during a disaster;
· increase awareness of and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize services provided by local volunteer networks that are available in the area to respond during a disaster or emergency; and
· develop a plan to create and manage state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public health region to assist counties that lack access to such a volunteer network during a disaster or emergency.
Senate Bill 982 requires the Department of State Health Services to take certain actions in collaboration with certain local medical organizations to ensure that licensed physicians are adequately informed about and have knowledge of and access to certain resources with respect to disaster planning and emergency response efforts.
Senate Bill 982 establishes the task force on disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities to study methods to more effectively assist such persons during a disaster or emergency evacuation and accommodate those persons in emergency shelters. The bill requires the task force to develop and submit a written report of the study and recommendations to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature.
Implementation of a provision of Senate Bill 982 by TDEM is mandatory only if a specific appropriation is made for that purpose.