BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1566
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
During the dramatic floods that impacted El Paso in August 2006, the city of Juarez was hit equally hard, prompting Mayor Hector Lardizabal to declare a state of emergency. Flood waters in Juarez threatened to pour into El Paso had the water continued to rise.
By allowing state agencies access to geographic information system data of areas near the Texas/Mexico boarder, Texas can better prepare for disasters such as the 2006 floods.
As proposed, S.B. 1566 requires the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board, under the guidance of the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC), to acquire and make available to state agencies geographic information system data for areas of the United States and Mexico that are within 150 miles of the Texas border. The bill also requires TGIC to issue a report containing recommendations on how to best use the information.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.021(e), Water Code, as follows:
(e) Requires the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board, under the guidance of the Texas Geographic Information Council (TGIC) to acquire and make available to state agencies information system data for areas of the United States and Mexico that are within 150 miles of the Texas border.
SECTION 2. Requires TGIC, not later than January 1, 2010, to issue a report containing recommendations on how the state and local governmental entities may best use of geographic information system data to respond to emergencies, including data provided by federal, state, and local governmental entities and private entities.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2009.