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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to uniform reentry procedures for essential personnel |
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entering an area evacuated during a disaster or other emergency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 418.018, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The governor, in cooperation with the Department of |
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Public Safety of the State of Texas, shall by rule establish uniform |
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reentry procedures for essential personnel entering a disaster area |
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or a stricken or threatened area that has been evacuated. The |
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procedures must: |
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(1) authorize the orderly reentry of essential |
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personnel according to the critical functions provided by the |
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personnel in restoring normal operations to the area following an |
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evacuation; |
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(2) prioritize the order of reentry for the essential |
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personnel, including emergency responders, search and rescue |
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personnel, infrastructure and utility repair personnel, official |
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damage assessment personnel, health care providers, and businesses |
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essential to the return of residents; and |
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(3) establish methods to authenticate the identity of |
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the personnel authorized to reenter the area. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the governor, in cooperation with the Department of |
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Public Safety of the State of Texas, shall adopt rules to administer |
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Section 418.018(d), Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |