By: Branch (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 88
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2007;
  May 2, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation and Homeland Security; May 8, 2007, reported
  favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 8, 2007, sent
  to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the evacuation and sheltering of service animals and
  household pets in a disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.043, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 418.043.  OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES.  The division shall:
               (1)  determine requirements of the state and its
  political subdivisions for food, clothing, and other necessities in
  event of a disaster;
               (2)  procure and position supplies, medicines,
  materials, and equipment;
               (3)  adopt standards and requirements for local and
  interjurisdictional emergency management plans;
               (4)  periodically review local and interjurisdictional
  emergency management plans;
               (5)  coordinate deployment of mobile support units;
               (6)  establish and operate training programs and
  programs of public information or assist political subdivisions and
  emergency management agencies to establish and operate the
  programs;
               (7)  make surveys of public and private industries,
  resources, and facilities in the state that are necessary to carry
  out the purposes of this chapter;
               (8)  plan and make arrangements for the availability
  and use of any private facilities, services, and property and
  provide for payment for use under terms and conditions agreed on if
  the facilities are used and payment is necessary;
               (9)  establish a register of persons with types of
  training and skills important in disaster mitigation,
  preparedness, response, and recovery;
               (10)  establish a register of mobile and construction
  equipment and temporary housing available for use in a disaster;
               (11)  assist political subdivisions in developing
  plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary
  sheltering of service animals and household pets in a disaster;
               (12)  prepare, for issuance by the governor, executive
  orders and regulations necessary or appropriate in coping with
  disasters;
               (13) [(12)]  cooperate with the federal government and
  any public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose of
  this chapter and in implementing programs for disaster mitigation,
  preparation, response, and recovery; and
               (14) [(13)]  do other things necessary, incidental, or
  appropriate for the implementation of this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
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