By Johnson                                            H.B. No. 2872
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to emergency management.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended to
    1-5  read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 418.004.  Definitions.  In this chapter:
    1-7              (5)  "Organized volunteer group" means an organization
    1-8  such as the American National Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the
    1-9  Civil Air Patrol, the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services,
   1-10  Volunteer Fire Department, Volunteer Rescue Squad, or other similar
   1-11  organizations recognized by federal or state statute, regulation,
   1-12  or memorandum.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  Section 418.109, Government Code, is amended by
   1-14  adding Subdivision (d) to read as follows:
   1-15        Sec. 418.109.  MUTUAL AID.  (d)  Any city, county, fire or
   1-16  emergency services district, fire protection agency, organized
   1-17  volunteer group, or other emergency service entity, may provide
   1-18  mutual aid assistance upon request from any other city, county,
   1-19  fire or emergency services district, fire protection agency,
   1-20  organized volunteer group, or other emergency service entity.  The
   1-21  chief or highest ranking officer, with the approval and consent of
   1-22  the presiding officer of the governing body of the political
   1-23  subdivision, agency, or group, may provide this assistance while
    2-1  acting in accordance with the policies, ordinances, and procedures
    2-2  set forth by the governing body.  Such assistance shall be
    2-3  consistent with mutual aid plans developed by the State of Texas
    2-4  Emergency Management Council.
    2-5        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-6  crowded condition of calendars in both houses create an emergency
    2-7  and an imperative public necessity that the constitutional rule
    2-8  requiring bills to be read on three several days in each house be
    2-9  suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, and that this Act
   2-10  takes effect and be in force from and after its passage, and it is
   2-11  so enacted.