H.B. No. 1998
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to temporary housing and emergency shelters provided by a
  political subdivision for disaster victims.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows:
               (6-a)  "Public facility" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 102, Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
  Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5122).
         SECTION 2.  Section 418.020, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 418.020.  TEMPORARY HOUSING AND EMERGENCY SHELTER.  (a)  
  The governor may enter into purchase, lease, or other arrangements
  with an agency of the United States for temporary housing units to
  be occupied by disaster victims and may make units available to any
  political subdivision.
         (b)  The governor may assist a political subdivision that is
  the locus of temporary housing or emergency shelters for disaster
  victims to acquire sites necessary for temporary housing or
  emergency shelters and to do all things required to prepare the
  sites to receive and use temporary housing units or emergency
  shelters by:
               (1)  advancing or lending funds available to the
  governor from any appropriation made by the legislature or from any
  other source;
               (2)  allocating funds made available by a public or
  private agency; or
               (3)  becoming a copartner with the political
  subdivision for the execution and performance of any temporary
  housing or emergency shelter project for disaster victims.
         (c)  Under regulations prescribed by the governor, the
  governor may temporarily suspend or modify for a period of not more
  than 60 days any public health, safety, zoning, intrastate
  transportation, or other law or regulation if by proclamation the
  governor considers the suspension or modification essential to
  provide temporary housing or emergency shelter for disaster
  victims.
         (d)  Any political subdivision may temporarily or
  permanently acquire by lease, purchase, or other means sites
  required for installation of temporary housing units or emergency
  shelters for disaster victims and may enter into arrangements
  necessary to prepare or equip the sites to use the housing units or
  shelters, including arrangements for the purchase of temporary
  housing units or shelters and the payment of transportation
  charges.
         (e)  A political subdivision that is the locus of temporary
  housing or emergency shelters for persons moved or evacuated by
  recommendation or order of the governor may be assisted by any
  resource available to the state, including the disaster contingency
  fund, to ensure the political subdivision receives an advance or
  reimbursement:
               (1)  of all expenses, including lost revenue, incurred
  by the political subdivision associated with the use of public
  facilities for temporary housing or emergency shelters; and
               (2)  of the amounts paid for salaries and benefits of
  permanently employed, straight-time and regular-time personnel of
  the political subdivision who perform duties associated with the
  movement or evacuation of persons into, out of, or through the
  political subdivision.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1998 was passed by the House on April
  23, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1998 on May 18, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 140, Nays 0,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1998 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 14, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor