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.