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, the Texas Water Development Board, the Small Business 2-7 Administration, volunteer organizations, the Division of Emergency 2-8 Management, the General Land Office, and the Texas Department of 2-9 Transportation in mitigating damage by taking action before, as 2-10 well as providing disaster assistance after, flooding and other 2-11 natural disasters and to streamline the provision of disaster 2-12 assistance, including the use of cost-effective technologies to 2-13 facilitate service; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That the committee consist of representatives from 2-15 the Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Natural Resource 2-16 Conservation Commission, Texas Water Development Board, General 2-17 Land Office, and Division of Emergency Management as well as 2-18 municipalities, counties, and river authorities, with the Division 2-19 of Emergency Management 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. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 68 was adopted by the Senate on May 10, 1999; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 28, 1999, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 68 was adopted by the House, with amendment, on May 25, 1999. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor