By: Armbrister S.C.R. No. 68 99S1275/1 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 2-1 disaster-related activities of local, state, and federal 2-2 representatives, and this lack of coordination has caused the 2-3 general public great hardship; now, therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-5 hereby create a blue ribbon study to examine ways to improve 2-6 coordination among the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-7 Commission, Texas Water Development Board, Small Business 2-8 Administration, volunteer organizations, Division of Emergency 2-9 Management, and General Land Office in mitigating damage by taking 2-10 action before, as well as providing disaster assistance after, 2-11 flooding and other natural disasters and to streamline the 2-12 provision of disaster assistance, including the use of 2-13 cost-effective technologies to facilitate service; and, be it 2-14 further 2-15 RESOLVED, That the committee consist of representatives from 2-16 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas Water 2-17 Development Board, General Land Office, and Division of Emergency 2-18 Management as well as municipalities, counties, and river 2-19 authorities, with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-20 Commission serving as chair; and, be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That appropriate federal agencies act as a resource 2-22 to the committee as necessary and that the Lyndon B. Johnson School 2-23 of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, may also act 2-24 as a resource to the committee as necessary; and, be it further 2-25 RESOLVED, That the committee deliver the study to the 77th 3-1 Legislature with recommendations when it convenes in January, 2001.