1-1     By:  Armbrister                                       S.C.R. No. 68
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed April 21, 1999; April 22, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Administration;
 1-4     April 30, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4,
 1-5     Nays 0; April 30, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, Major portions of Texas have endured nature's wrath
 1-8     in the weather extremes of the 1990s; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, In October, 1998, historic floods occurred across
1-10     much of South Texas; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Governor Bush declared a state of disaster in 22
1-12     counties; and
1-13           WHEREAS, President Clinton concurred and by presidential
1-14     declaration authorized federal aid; and
1-15           WHEREAS, The general public, municipalities, and counties all
1-16     endured major losses; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Local officials have expended considerable time and
1-18     energy completing disaster documentation for submittal to the
1-19     Division of Emergency Management, Federal Emergency Management
1-20     Agency, and Natural Resource Conservation Service; and
1-21           WHEREAS, The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at
1-22     The University of Texas at Austin has been involved with the City
1-23     of Cuero concerning their housing issues caused by this disaster;
1-24     and
1-25           WHEREAS, Due to the magnitude of the disaster, the
1-26     legislature approved and added $16.3 million to the emergency
1-27     appropriations bill to assist local communities with state funds
1-28     necessary to match federal dollars; and
1-29           WHEREAS, Difficulties have occurred in coordinating the
1-30     disaster-related activities of local, state, and federal
1-31     representatives, and this lack of coordination has caused the
1-32     general public great hardship; now, therefore, be it
1-33           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-34     hereby create a blue ribbon study to examine ways to improve
1-35     coordination among the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-36     Commission, Texas Water Development Board, Small Business
1-37     Administration, volunteer organizations, Division of Emergency
1-38     Management, and General Land Office in mitigating damage by taking
1-39     action before, as well as providing disaster assistance after,
1-40     flooding and other natural disasters and to streamline the
1-41     provision of disaster assistance, including the use of
1-42     cost-effective technologies to facilitate service; and, be it
1-43     further
1-44           RESOLVED, That the committee consist of representatives from
1-45     the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas Water
1-46     Development Board, General Land Office, and Division of Emergency
1-47     Management as well as municipalities, counties, and river
1-48     authorities, with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-49     Commission serving as chair; and, be it further
1-50           RESOLVED, That appropriate federal agencies act as a resource
1-51     to the committee as necessary and that the Lyndon B. Johnson School
1-52     of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin, may also act
1-53     as a resource to the committee as necessary; and, be it further
1-54           RESOLVED, That the committee deliver the study to the 77th
1-55     Legislature with recommendations when it convenes in January, 2001.
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