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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: Callegari |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Hurricanes are a consistent threat to cities along the Texas gulf coast. The thriving port city of Indianola ceased to exist after it was hit by a hurricane in 1886. In 2008, Hurricane Ike made landfall in Galveston as a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Ike wreaked billions of dollars in damages in the Houston-Galveston area. The Hurricane of 1900 that decimated Galveston, estimated to have been a Category 4 hurricane, ranks as the deadliest natural disaster to have ever hit the United States. Experts predict that if a Category 3 hurricane makes landfall in the Houston-Galveston area, the storm would cause a significant loss in life and billions in damages.
Although Texas has been severely affected by hurricanes, the state lacks a resource center to prepare for future hurricanes and develop procedures for rapid recovery. House Bill 2939 creates the Texas Hurricane Center for Innovative Technology at the University of Houston. The Center would serve as a testing and research facility for developing hurricane protection products, as well as systems and technologies to mitigate hurricane-related problems. HB 2939 also requires that the Center develop protocols for the recovery of private and public sector facilities after a hurricane.
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
The bill amends Chapter 111, Education Code, to establish the Texas Hurricane Center for Innovative Technology (Center) within the College of Engineering at the University of Houston (University). The bill provides that the University's board of regents shall have oversight of the Center, and authorizes the board to solicit and accept gifts and grants, and employ personnel for the Center. The Center's activities shall be open to any University faculty member that is an active researcher in certain engineering or technology related fields, or other fields as determined by the University. The Center shall have two purposes. First, the Center shall promote interdisciplinary research, education, and training for the development of advanced products and systems designed to mitigate typical hurricane damages. Second, the Center shall develop protocols for the expeditious recovery of public and private sector facilities, as well as municipalities and other local communities, following a hurricane. The bill authorizes the Center to collaborate and coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations throughout a hurricane event; develop materials and devices for hurricane protection and monitoring; develop structural anchor systems; develop test facilities to evaluate hurricane protection products or techniques; develop standards for hurricane protection products; develop coastline protection systems; design evacuation centers and other structures to withstand hurricanes; address hurricane or other disaster-related evacuation-related issues; and provide community safety education programs. The bill requires that the University encourage public and private entities to participate in or support the operations of the Center, and allows the University to enter into agreements with aforesaid entities for that purpose. The bill provides that an agreement between the Center and an entity may allow the Center to provide information, services, and other assistance to an entity in exchange for that entity's participation or support.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.