S.B. 756 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 756
Nelson
Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, in the event of a local disaster, an airport joint board would
be required to contact the city/cities affected by a local disaster and
then ask the mayor(s) to declare a local state of emergency. The mayor(s)
must then contact the county judge(s) to request additional assistance.
In many cases, the county judge(s) will then contact the Disaster District
Committee for state aid. 

Given the impact of an airport disaster upon the national transportation
system and the regional economy, the current pathway to state and federal
resources is too lengthy and is in need of change. Senate Bill 756 would
streamline the disaster declaration process to give airports quicker
access to state and federal disaster aid when necessary. The airport's
Chief Executive Officer would be able to declare a disaster at the airport
and have the written document filed with the airport joint board's
"secretary/official" rather than depending upon the city to file the
document. The airport joint board must still go through the county judge
and the Disaster District Committee.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1 - Defines "Joint Board."

SECTION 2 - Allows a  Joint Board to request assistance from the county
program when its resources are exceeded. 

SECTION 3- Allows the chief administrative officer of a Joint Board to
declare a local state of disaster that exists within the boundaries of an
airport operated or controlled by the joint board. 

SECTION 4 - Effective date: September 1, 2003, unless this Act receives
the necessary votes for immediate effect.  This change applies only to
action filed on or after the effective date of this Act.