BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 854

By: Nelson

Appropriations

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to interested parties, the Texas Division of Emergency Management occasionally utilizes persons outside the division to respond to disasters and other emergency situations and incidents. The goal of S.B. 854 is to support first responders by authorizing the division to use appropriated funds to pay for food and beverages for those persons under certain circumstances.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

S.B. 854 amends the Government Code to extend the authority of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to use appropriated funds to purchase food and beverages for division personnel who are activated to provide services in response to a disaster and unable to leave or required to remain at their assignment areas due to the disaster to include any person who is activated to provide services in response to an emergency situation, an incident, or a disaster and unable to leave or required to remain at the person's assignment area due to the emergency situation, incident, or disaster.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.