By Bernsen                                            S.B. No. 1650
         77R3179 MCK-F                           
                                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 state
 2-1     agency that is represented on the emergency management council may
 2-2     employ or contract with temporary personnel as necessary to provide
 2-3     disaster assistance to a political subdivision after a disaster is
 2-4     declared by the governor or the president of 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.