By:  Armbrister                                       S.C.R. No. 68
                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Major portions of Texas have endured nature's wrath
 1-2     in the weather extremes of the 1990s; and
 1-3           WHEREAS, In October, 1998, historic floods occurred across
 1-4     much of South Texas; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, Governor Bush declared a state of disaster in 22
 1-6     counties; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, President Clinton concurred and by presidential
 1-8     declaration authorized federal aid; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, The general public, municipalities, and counties all
1-10     endured major losses; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Local officials have expended considerable time and
1-12     energy completing disaster documentation for submittal to the
1-13     Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management
1-14     Agency, and Natural Resource Conservation Service; and
1-15           WHEREAS, The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at
1-16     The University of Texas at Austin has been involved with the City
1-17     of Cuero concerning their housing issues caused by this disaster;
1-18     and
1-19           WHEREAS, Due to the magnitude of the disaster, the
1-20     legislature approved and added $16.3 million to the emergency
1-21     appropriations bill to assist local communities with state funds
1-22     necessary to match federal dollars; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Difficulties have occurred in coordinating the
1-24     disaster-related activities of local, state, and federal
 2-1     representatives, and this lack of coordination has caused the
 2-2     general public great hardship; now, therefore, be it
 2-3           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-4     hereby create a blue ribbon study to examine ways to improve
 2-5     coordination among the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
 2-6     Commission, Texas Water Development Board, Small Business
 2-7     Administration, volunteer organizations, Division of Emergency
 2-8     Management, and General Land Office in mitigating damage by taking
 2-9     action before, as well as providing disaster assistance after,
2-10     flooding and other natural disasters and to streamline the
2-11     provision of disaster assistance, including the use of
2-12     cost-effective technologies to facilitate service; and, be it
2-13     further
2-14           RESOLVED, That the committee consist of representatives from
2-15     the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas Water
2-16     Development Board, General Land Office, and Division of Emergency
2-17     Management as well as municipalities, counties, and river
2-18     authorities, with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
2-19     Commission serving as chair; and, be it further
2-20           RESOLVED, That appropriate federal agencies act as a resource
2-21     to the committee as necessary and that the Lyndon B. Johnson School
2-22     of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, may also act
2-23     as a resource to the committee as necessary; and, be it further
2-24           RESOLVED, That the committee deliver the study to the 77th
2-25     Legislature with recommendations when it convenes in January, 2001.