TO: | Honorable Frank Corte Jr., Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs |
FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
IN RE: | SB12 by Carona (relating to disaster preparedness and emergency management and to certain vehicles used in emergencies; providing a penalty.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted |
There are provisions of the bill that are anticipated to have no significant impact to the State or that are assumed could be reasonably be absorbed with existing resources. The fiscal impact of other provisions of the bill cannot be determined due to the unavailability of reliable data or information.
The bill would amend the Education, Government, Health and Safety, Transportation, and Utilities Code relating to disaster preparedness and emergency management.
Two sections of the bill would address the disaster contingency fund. Sections 1.08 and 1.16 of the bill which relate to the disaster contingency fund could have a significant fiscal impact to the state; however, due to the unknown size, duration, and location of any particular disaster or the scope of the state's recovery efforts, the fiscal impact cannot be determined. Additionally, the Comptroller reports that the Disaster Contingency Fund (0453) currently has no available balance and no existing funding mechanism that would appropriate funds to the account in the future.
Section 1.08 of the bill states the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management (GDEM) may employ or contract with temporary personnel from division funds, federal funds, or funds from the disaster contingency fund. The bill also states GDEM may enroll, organize, train and equip a cadre of disaster reservists to temporarily augment its permanent staff. GDEM may also activate and pay enrolled disaster reservists to support recovery operations in the aftermath of a disaster or major emergency. Current law allows GDEM to contract for these services from funds appropriated to the division, from federal funds, or from the disaster contingency fund. Section 1.16 of the bill allows an agency to request funding from the Disaster Contingency Fund for the purpose of purchasing insurance in order to qualify for federal disaster assistance funds. Section 5154 of the federal Stafford Act requires that insurance purchased in order to qualify for federal disaster assistance must be maintained for the life of the structure to protect against future loss to such property. This could have a significant fiscal impact to the state; however, due to the unknown cost of such policies, the number of agencies seeking assistance, and the life of such structures, the cost cannot be determined.
The bill states a document relating to a school district’s multihazard emergency operations plan is subject to disclosure if the document enables a person to verify certain aspects of the district plan. The bill adds extreme heat to the definition of disaster. The bill requires the Texas Engineering Extension Service of the
The bill would repeal Government Code, Section 418.072 regarding the Disaster Emergency Funding Board and Government Code, Chapter 2302 regarding the State Cogeneration Council.
There are provisions of the bill that are anticipated to have no significant fiscal impact to units of local government or that are assumed could be reasonably absorbed with existing resources. The fiscal impact of other provisions of the bill cannot be determined due the unavailability of reliable data or information.
Source Agencies: |
LBB Staff: | JOB, KJG, GG, LG, KK
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