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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to emergency preparation and management. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.006. CIVIL LIABILITY. An officer or employee of a |
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state or local agency, or a volunteer acting at the direction of an |
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officer or employee of a state or local agency, is considered for |
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purposes of Section 431.085 to be a member of the state military |
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forces ordered into active service of the state by proper authority |
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and is considered to be discharging a duty in that capacity if the |
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person is performing an activity related to sheltering or housing |
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individuals in connection with the evacuation of an area stricken |
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or threatened by disaster. |
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SECTION 2. Section 418.043, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.043. OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES. The division shall: |
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(1) determine requirements of the state and its |
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political subdivisions for food, clothing, and other necessities in |
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event of a disaster; |
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(2) procure and position supplies, medicines, |
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materials, and equipment; |
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(3) adopt standards and requirements for local and |
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interjurisdictional emergency management plans; |
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(4) periodically review local and interjurisdictional |
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emergency management plans; |
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(5) coordinate deployment of mobile support units; |
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(6) establish and operate training programs and |
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programs of public information or assist political subdivisions and |
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emergency management agencies to establish and operate the |
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programs; |
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(7) make surveys of public and private industries, |
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resources, and facilities in the state that are necessary to carry |
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out the purposes of this chapter; |
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(8) plan and make arrangements for the availability |
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and use of any private facilities, services, and property and |
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provide for payment for use under terms and conditions agreed on if |
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the facilities are used and payment is necessary; |
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(9) establish a register of persons with types of |
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training and skills important in disaster mitigation, |
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preparedness, response, and recovery; |
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(10) establish a register of mobile and construction |
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equipment and temporary housing available for use in a disaster; |
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(11) assist political subdivisions in developing |
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plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary |
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sheltering of service animals and household pets in a disaster; |
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(12) prepare, for issuance by the governor, executive |
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orders and regulations necessary or appropriate in coping with |
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disasters; |
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(13) cooperate with the federal government and any |
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public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose of this |
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chapter and in implementing programs for disaster mitigation, |
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preparation, response, and recovery; [and] |
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(14) define "individuals with special needs" in the |
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context of a disaster; and |
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(15) do other things necessary, incidental, or |
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appropriate for the implementation of this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.126 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.126. PRE-EVENT DISASTER RESPONSE CONTRACTS. (a) |
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The General Land Office shall solicit proposals for and enter into |
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one or more pre-event contracts that may be activated by the office |
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in the event of a weather-related disaster declaration to obtain |
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services for debris removal from beaches as needed following the |
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disaster. |
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(b) The Texas Department of Transportation shall solicit |
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proposals for and enter into one or more pre-event contracts that |
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may be activated by the department in the event of a weather-related |
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disaster declaration to obtain services for debris removal from the |
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state highway system as needed following the disaster. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs |
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shall solicit proposals for and enter into one or more pre-event |
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contracts that may be activated by the department in the event of a |
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weather-related disaster declaration to obtain temporary or |
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emergency housing as needed following the disaster. |
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(d) Services obtained under a pre-event contract under this |
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section shall be paid for with money from the disaster contingency |
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fund under Section 418.073. |
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SECTION 4. Not later than January 1, 2010, the relevant |
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state agencies shall adopt the contracts required by Section |
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418.126, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |