BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 171

By: West

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

During the interim, the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations was charged to analyze ways to better coordinate federal, state, and local housing resources for individuals impacted by natural disasters that have caused the loss of homes.  Those individuals impacted by a natural disaster often must cross multiple government agencies and nonprofit "front doors" in order to receive assistance, resulting in multiple forms, proofs of identification, and applications.  A single application would especially assist those individuals who have suffered a total loss of home and all possessions.  As the lead for emergency management in Texas, the Texas Division of Emergency Management should organize a workgroup of appropriate Texas Emergency Management Council agencies, along with local government officials, and nonprofit organizations to determine whether a single application to be used by all state departments following a natural disaster could be developed. 

Specifically, S.B. 171 requires the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to create a workgroup of appropriate emergency management council members, local government officials, and nonprofit organizations to determine if a uniform application form for assistance following a natural disaster can be created to be used by state agencies and persons requesting assistance from state agencies.  S.B. 171 also obligates the workgroup to report its findings and any recommendations for any necessary statutory changes to the legislature. 

As proposed, S.B. 171 amends current law relating to the establishment of a workgroup to study the use by state agencies of a uniform application form following disasters.

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

Amends Section 418.013, Government Code, by adding Subsection (e) that requires the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to establish a workgroup of appropriate emergency management council members, local government officials, and nonprofit organizations to determine if a uniform application form for assistance following a disaster may be developed for use by state agencies and by persons requesting assistance from state agencies.  Requires the workgroup to report its findings, including recommendations for any necessary statutory changes, to the legislature before September 1, 2014.  Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2014.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2013.