By: Bernsen S.B. No. 1650 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to certain state agency expenses incurred during a state 1-3 or federal declared disaster. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 418.071, Government Code, is amended to 1-6 read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 418.071. STATE POLICY. It is the intent of the 1-8 legislature and the policy of the state that funds to meet disaster 1-9 emergencies always be available, including funds for travel 1-10 necessary to provide state disaster assistance to political 1-11 subdivisions. 1-12 SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 418, Government Code, is 1-13 amended by adding Sections 418.075 and 418.076 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 418.075. TRAVEL EXPENSES. Travel expenses related to 1-15 providing disaster assistance in a disaster declared by the 1-16 governor or the president of the United States are not considered 1-17 expenses to be reported in a state agency's authorized travel 1-18 allowance. This section applies only to travel expenses incurred: 1-19 (1) during the time a disaster field office is 1-20 operational; and 1-21 (2) by personnel assigned disaster related duties 1-22 authorized by the state coordinating officer, the governor's 1-23 authorized representative, or the disaster district chairperson. 1-24 Sec. 418.076. STATE AGENCY TEMPORARY PERSONNEL. (a) A 1-25 state agency that is represented on the emergency management 2-1 council may employ or contract with temporary personnel as 2-2 necessary to provide disaster assistance to a political subdivision 2-3 after a disaster is declared by the governor or the president of 2-4 the United States. 2-5 (b) The agency may pay for the employees or contract 2-6 personnel from: 2-7 (1) funds appropriated to the state agency; 2-8 (2) federal funds; or 2-9 (3) the disaster contingency fund. 2-10 (c) The state merit system does not apply to a person 2-11 employed under Subsection (a). 2-12 (d) A person employed under Subsection (a) does not count 2-13 against the state agency's full-time employee authorization. 2-14 (e) This section applies only during the time a disaster 2-15 field office is operational. 2-16 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.