BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.S.B. 936

By: Carona

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

The lack of coordination between different types of communication systems hampers emergency response and relief. Current law requires the governor's division of emergency management to coordinate with other state agencies to evaluate communication resources that might lead to rapid and efficient communication.

 

C.S.S.B. 936 creates a communications coordination group to assist the division of emergency management in gathering and disseminating information during an emergency. The group consists of representatives of key agencies and entities involved in emergency response who assist with the coordination and collaboration of disaster and emergency response communication at the direction of the division.

 

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

 

C.S.S.B. 936 amends the Government Code to require under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 a

communications coordination group to facilitate interagency coordination and collaboration to

provide efficient and effective planning and execution of communications support to joint,

interagency, and intergovernmental task forces. The bill requires the group, at the direction of

the division of emergency management, to assist with coordination and collaboration during an

emergency and establishes that the group consists of members selected by the division, including

representatives of the following:

 

            · the Texas military forces;

            · the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;

            · the Federal Emergency Management Agency;

            · federal agencies that comprise Emergency Support Function No. 2;

            · the telecommunications industry, including cable service providers, as defined by state

            law;

            · electric and gas utilities, as defined by state law;

            · the National Guard's Joint Continental United States Communications Support

            Environment;

            · the National Guard Bureau;

            · amateur radio operator groups;

            · the Texas Forest Service;

            · the Texas Department of Transportation;

            · the General Land Office;

            · the Texas Engineering Extension Service of The Texas A&M University System;

            · the Public Utility Commission of Texas;

            · the Railroad Commission of Texas;

            · the Department of State Health Services;

            · the judicial branch of state government;

            · the Texas Association of Regional Councils;

            · the United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, Texas Wing;

            · each trauma service area regional advisory council;

            · state agencies, counties, and municipalities affected by the emergency; and

            · other agencies as determined by the division.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

 

C.S.S.B. 936 differs from the original by including electric and gas utilities, the Public Utility

Commission of Texas, and each trauma service area regional advisory council among the entities

required to be represented in a communications coordination group.