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.