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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to temporary housing and emergency shelters provided by a |
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political subdivision for disaster victims. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows: |
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(6-a) "Public facility" has the meaning assigned by |
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the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act |
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(42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.). |
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SECTION 2. Section 418.020, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.020. TEMPORARY HOUSING AND EMERGENCY |
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SHELTER. (a) The governor may enter into purchase, lease, or |
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other arrangements with an agency of the United States for |
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temporary housing units to be occupied by disaster victims and may |
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make units available to any political subdivision. |
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(b) The governor may assist a political subdivision that is |
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the locus of temporary housing or emergency shelters for disaster |
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victims to acquire sites necessary for temporary housing or |
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emergency shelters and to do all things required to prepare the |
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sites to receive and use temporary housing units or emergency |
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shelters by: |
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(1) advancing or lending funds available to the |
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governor from any appropriation made by the legislature or from any |
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other source; |
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(2) allocating funds made available by a public or |
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private agency; or |
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(3) becoming a copartner with the political |
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subdivision for the execution and performance of any temporary |
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housing or emergency shelter project for disaster victims. |
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(c) Under regulations prescribed by the governor, the |
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governor may temporarily suspend or modify for a period of not more |
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than 60 days any public health, safety, zoning, intrastate |
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transportation, or other law or regulation if by proclamation the |
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governor considers the suspension or modification essential to |
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provide temporary housing or emergency shelter for disaster |
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victims. |
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(d) Any political subdivision may temporarily or |
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permanently acquire by lease, purchase, or other means sites |
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required for installation of temporary housing units or emergency |
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shelters for disaster victims and may enter into arrangements |
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necessary to prepare or equip the sites to use the housing units or |
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shelters, including arrangements for the purchase of temporary |
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housing units and the payment of transportation charges. |
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(e) A political subdivision that is the locus of temporary |
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housing or emergency shelters for persons moved or evacuated by |
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recommendation or order of the governor shall be assisted by any |
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resource available to the state to ensure the political subdivision |
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receives an advance or reimbursement: |
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(1) of all expenses, including lost revenue, incurred |
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by the political subdivision associated with the use of public |
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facilities for temporary housing or emergency shelters; and |
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(2) of the amounts paid for salaries and benefits of |
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permanently employed, straight-time and regular-time personnel of |
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the political subdivision who perform duties associated with the |
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movement or evacuation of persons into, out of, or through the |
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political subdivision. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |