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. 1-48 * * * * *