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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of public facilities as emergency shelters |
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during disasters. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subdivision (1), Section 418.004, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(1) "Disaster" means the occurrence or imminent threat |
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of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property |
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resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including fire, |
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flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other |
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water contamination, volcanic activity, epidemic, air |
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contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, riot, |
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hostile military or paramilitary action, extreme heat, other public |
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calamity requiring emergency action, or energy emergency. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 418.042, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The division shall prepare and keep current a |
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comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may |
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include: |
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(1) provisions for prevention and minimization of |
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injury and damage caused by disaster; |
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(2) provisions for prompt and effective response to |
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disaster; |
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(3) provisions for emergency relief; |
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(4) provisions for energy emergencies; |
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(5) identification of areas particularly vulnerable |
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to disasters; |
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(6) recommendations for zoning, building |
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restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for |
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securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent |
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structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures |
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designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact; |
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(7) provisions for assistance to local officials in |
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designing local emergency management plans; |
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(8) authorization and procedures for the erection or |
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other construction of temporary works designed to protect against |
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or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other |
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disaster; |
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(9) preparation and distribution to the appropriate |
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state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and |
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private assistance programs; |
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(10) organization of manpower and channels of |
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assistance; |
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(11) coordination of federal, state, and local |
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emergency management activities; |
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(12) coordination of the state emergency management |
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plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government; |
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(13) coordination of federal and state energy |
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emergency plans; |
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(14) provisions for education and training of local |
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officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established |
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under 47 C.F.R. Part 11; [and] |
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(15) a list of public facilities that may be used under |
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Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster, including |
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air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme heat |
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disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind |
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disaster; and |
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(16) other necessary matters relating to disasters. |
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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. |