SRC-JEC S.B. 94 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 94
2001S0655/1By: Nelson
Intergovernmental Relations
3/6/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law concerning disaster management does not make any mention
of bioterrorism. C.S.S.B. 94 requires local governments to create a
terrorism response plan, preparing them to respond to terrorist activities
including biological, nuclear, or chemical threats, as part of their
emergency management plan.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 418.106, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(b) and adding Subsections (d) and (e), as follows: 

(b)  Requires the emergency management plan to provide for certain elements
and address natural, technological, and man-made hazards, including acts or
threatened acts of terrorism involving the use or threatened use of:
conventional weapons; nuclear devices and materials; chemical agents; or
biological agents. 

(d)  Authorizes the local or interjurisdictional agency, in developing the
plan to address nuclear devices or materials and biological agents, to
consult with the Texas Department of Health (department). 

(e)  Requires the emergency management plans adopted under this section to
follow the standards and requirements adopted by the division of emergency
management in the office of the governor under Section 418.043. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from the original by deleting previously proposed SECTION 2
pertaining to the Texas Department of Health's development of a certain
expertise.  Redesignates previously proposed SECTION 3 as SECTION 2 with no
changes.