BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 854
	By: Nelson
	Finance
	5/30/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

This bill allows the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for personnel when they are responding to an emergency and unable to leave because of the emergency.

TDEM personnel are occasionally required to respond to a disaster and must remain at the site to provide care and services. Accordingly, H.B. 120 (Flynn/Nelson), 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, provided statutory authority for TDEM to use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for its employees when they are responding to a disaster. However, TDEM, which is a division within the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), will occasionally utilize employees outside of TDEM or DPS to respond to disasters and other emergencies and incidents. Currently, the law does not allow for the use of TDEM funds to pay for food and beverages for employees outside of TDEM when responding to a disaster or an emergency.

S.B. 854 amends Section 418.052, Government Code, to expand TDEM�s current authority to use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for any personnel responding to a disaster or emergency and unable to leave due to the incident.

S.B. 854 amends current law relating to the purchase of food and beverages by the Texas Division of Emergency Management for certain persons.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 418.052, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 418.052. New heading: USE OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT CERTAIN PERSONS. Authorizes the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for a person, rather than TDEM personnel, who is activated to provide services in response to an emergency situation, an incident, or a disaster and is unable to leave or required to remain at the person�s assignment area due to the emergency situation, incident, or disaster. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.