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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 1090

By: Martinez, "Mando"

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

There is concern that no regional response task force is currently located in the Rio Grande Valley to respond to natural and man-made disasters. Interested parties contend that the Rio Grande Valley is among the areas most vulnerable to hurricanes in Texas and, as a result of the valley's location and the lack of a regional response task force in the area, a disaster could isolate the valley and its residents, seriously complicating search and rescue efforts. To address these concerns, C.S.H.B. 1090 creates Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley as a program of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service to provide training and assistance in search, rescue, and recovery efforts following a disaster in the Rio Grande Valley.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 1090 amends the Education Code to require the board of regents of The Texas A&M University System to establish Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley as a program of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service providing training and assisting in search, rescue, and recovery efforts following natural or man-made disasters. The bill sets out the task force's responsibilities, requires the headquarters of the task force to be located in the Rio Grande Valley, and requires the training and assistance capabilities of the task force to be substantially equivalent to the training and assistance capabilities of the Texas Task Force 1 program. The bill provides that the task force will operate, train, respond, and function under Texas Task Force 1.

 

C.S.H.B. 1090 makes the members of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley responsible for any costs and expenses related to the operation, training, and equipment of the task force, including the procurement and maintenance of equipment and supplies. The bill authorizes a member of Texas the Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley to be reimbursed for the member's expenses incurred while activated and deployed in the same manner as a member of Texas Task Force 1.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 1090 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 2.  Section 88.301(2), Education Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 88.3025 and amending Section 88.303 to read as follows:

Sec. 88.3025.  TEXAS TASK FORCE 1 TYPE 3 RIO GRANDE VALLEY.  (a) The board shall establish Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley as a program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service.

 

(b)  The training and assistance capabilities of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley must be substantially equivalent to the training and assistance capabilities of the Texas Task Force 1 program described in Section 88.302.

(c)  The headquarters of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley shall be located in the Rio Grande Valley.

(d)  Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley is a program of the Texas Engineering Extension Service providing training and responding to assist in search, rescue, and recovery efforts following natural or man-made disasters. The task force's responsibilities include:

(1)  building collapse;

(2)  search and rescue;

(3)  confined space rescue;

(4)  trench rescue;

(5)  high and low angle rescue;

(6)  swift water rescue;

(7)  hazardous materials response;

(8)  public works strike team response;

(9)  heavy transportation extrication;

(10)  wide-area search;

(11)  technical rescue; and

(12)  public safety.

(e)  The task force will operate, train, respond, and function under Texas Task Force 1.












Sec. 88.303.  WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

 

SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 88.3025 and amending Section 88.303 to read as follows:

Sec. 88.3025.  TEXAS TASK FORCE 1 TYPE 3 RIO GRANDE VALLEY.  (a) The board shall establish Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley as a program of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

(b)  The training and assistance capabilities of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley must be substantially equivalent to the training and assistance capabilities of the Texas Task Force 1 program described in Section 88.302.

(c)  The headquarters of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley shall be located in the Rio Grande Valley.

(d)  Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley is a program of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service providing training and responding to assist in search, rescue, and recovery efforts following natural or man-made disasters. The task force's responsibilities include:

(1)  building collapse;

(2)  search and rescue;

(3)  confined space rescue;

(4)  trench rescue;

(5)  high and low angle rescue;

(6)  swift water rescue;

(7)  hazardous materials response;

(8)  public works strike team response;

(9)  heavy transportation extrication;

(10)  wide-area search;

(11)  technical rescue; and

(12)  public safety.

(e)  The task force will operate, train, respond, and function under Texas Task Force 1.

(f)  The members of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley are responsible for any costs and expenses related to the operation, training, and equipment of the task force, including the procurement and maintenance of equipment and supplies.

(g)  A member of Texas Task Force 1 Type 3 Rio Grande Valley may be reimbursed for the member's expenses incurred while activated and deployed in the same manner as a member of Texas Task Force 1.

Sec. 88.303.  WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE COVERAGE. 

 

SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.