|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to creation of a search and rescue task force in each |
|
disaster field response region. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 418.043, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 418.043. OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES. The division shall: |
|
(1) determine requirements of the state and its |
|
political subdivisions for food, clothing, and other necessities in |
|
event of a disaster; |
|
(2) procure and position supplies, medicines, |
|
materials, and equipment; |
|
(3) adopt standards and requirements for local and |
|
interjurisdictional emergency management plans; |
|
(4) periodically review local and interjurisdictional |
|
emergency management plans; |
|
(5) coordinate deployment of mobile support units; |
|
(6) establish and operate training programs and |
|
programs of public information or assist political subdivisions and |
|
emergency management agencies to establish and operate the |
|
programs; |
|
(7) make surveys of public and private industries, |
|
resources, and facilities in the state that are necessary to carry |
|
out the purposes of this chapter; |
|
(8) plan and make arrangements for the availability |
|
and use of any private facilities, services, and property and |
|
provide for payment for use under terms and conditions agreed on if |
|
the facilities are used and payment is necessary; |
|
(9) establish a register of persons with types of |
|
training and skills important in disaster mitigation, |
|
preparedness, response, and recovery; |
|
(10) establish a register of mobile and construction |
|
equipment and temporary housing available for use in a disaster; |
|
(11) assist political subdivisions in developing |
|
plans for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary |
|
sheltering of service animals and household pets in a disaster; |
|
(12) prepare, for issuance by the governor, executive |
|
orders and regulations necessary or appropriate in coping with |
|
disasters; |
|
(13) cooperate with the federal government and any |
|
public or private agency or entity in achieving any purpose of this |
|
chapter and in implementing programs for disaster mitigation, |
|
preparation, response, and recovery; |
|
(14) develop a plan to raise public awareness and |
|
expand the capability of the information and referral network under |
|
Section 531.0312; |
|
(15) improve the integration of volunteer groups, |
|
including faith-based organizations, into emergency management |
|
plans; |
|
(16) cooperate with the Federal Emergency Management |
|
Agency to create uniform guidelines for acceptable home repairs |
|
following disasters and promote public awareness of the guidelines; |
|
(17) cooperate with state agencies to: |
|
(A) encourage the public to participate in |
|
volunteer emergency response teams and organizations that respond |
|
to disasters; and |
|
(B) provide information on those programs in |
|
state disaster preparedness and educational materials and on |
|
Internet websites; |
|
(18) establish a liability awareness program for |
|
volunteers, including medical professionals; |
|
(19) define "individuals with special needs" in the |
|
context of a disaster; |
|
(20) establish and operate a search and rescue task |
|
force in each field response region established by the division to |
|
assist in search, rescue, and recovery efforts before, during, and |
|
after a natural or man-made disaster; and |
|
(21) [(20)] do other things necessary, incidental, or |
|
appropriate for the implementation of this chapter. |
|
SECTION 2. 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, 2015. |