1-1     By:  Bernsen                                          S.B. No. 1650
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2001; March 14, 2001, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 19, 2001,
 1-4     reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 12, Nays 0;
 1-5     April 19, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to certain state agency expenses incurred during a state
 1-9     or federal declared disaster.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Section 418.071, Government Code, is amended to
1-12     read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 418.071.  STATE POLICY.  It is the intent of the
1-14     legislature and the policy of the state that funds to meet disaster
1-15     emergencies always be available, including funds for travel
1-16     necessary to provide state disaster assistance to political
1-17     subdivisions.
1-18           SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
1-19     amended by adding Sections 418.075 and 418.076 to read as follows:
1-20           Sec. 418.075.  TRAVEL EXPENSES.  Travel expenses related to
1-21     providing disaster assistance in a disaster declared by the
1-22     governor or the president of the United States are not considered
1-23     expenses to be reported in a state agency's authorized travel
1-24     allowance.  This section applies only to travel expenses incurred:
1-25                 (1)  during the time a disaster field office is
1-26     operational; and
1-27                 (2)  by personnel assigned disaster related duties
1-28     authorized by the state coordinating officer, the governor's
1-29     authorized representative, or the disaster district chairperson.
1-30           Sec. 418.076.  STATE AGENCY TEMPORARY PERSONNEL.  (a)  A
1-31     state agency that is represented on the emergency management
1-32     council may employ or contract with temporary personnel as
1-33     necessary to provide disaster assistance to a political subdivision
1-34     after a disaster is declared by the governor or the president of
1-35     the United States.
1-36           (b)  The agency may pay for the employees or contract
1-37     personnel from:
1-38                 (1)  funds appropriated to the state agency;
1-39                 (2)  federal funds; or
1-40                 (3)  the disaster contingency fund.
1-41           (c)  The state merit system does not apply to a person
1-42     employed under Subsection (a).
1-43           (d)  A person employed under Subsection (a)  does not count
1-44     against the state agency's full-time employee authorization.
1-45           (e)  This section applies only during the time a disaster
1-46     field office is operational.
1-47           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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