85R8230 JG-F

By: Martinez H.B. No. 1598

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the disaster identification system for a state of disaster.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:

(3-a) "Illuminated display" means a device that:

(A) displays blue, green, red, and yellow colors or the color white; and

(B) displays a flashing and a steady light.

SECTION 2. Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of disaster:

(1) activates the disaster recovery and rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [and]

(2) authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies, equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law relating to disasters; and

(3) activates for the area subject to the declaration the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0155.

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 418.0155 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.0155. DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an area subject to a declaration of a state of disaster under Section 418.014, a person may use an illuminated display to communicate with disaster relief personnel. A person who elects to participate in the disaster identification system shall:

(1) affix to each individual and domesticated animal in the person's household an illuminated display of the following colors:

(A) if the person has a monochromatic illuminated display, the color white for each individual and animal; or

(B) if the person has a multicolored illuminated display:

(i) blue for individuals 18 years of age or older;

(ii) green for individuals with a disability;

(iii) red for individuals younger than 18 years of age; and

(iv) yellow for animals; and

(2) using the illuminated display, signal to disaster relief personnel responding to the area after the disaster with:

(A) a solid light on the display of each household member who is healthy and not in need of medical assistance; or

(B) a flashing light on the display of each household member who is in need of medical assistance.

(b) Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated disaster area by air or ground at night to locate persons with activated illuminated displays.

SECTION 4. Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The division shall prepare and keep current a comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may include:

(1) provisions for prevention and minimization of injury and damage caused by disaster;

(2) provisions for prompt and effective response to disaster;

(3) provisions for emergency relief;

(4) provisions for energy emergencies;

(5) identification of areas particularly vulnerable to disasters;

(6) recommendations for zoning, building restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;

(7) provisions for assistance to local officials in designing local emergency management plans;

(8) authorization and procedures for the erection or other construction of temporary works designed to protect against or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other disaster;

(9) preparation and distribution to the appropriate state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and private assistance programs;

(10) organization of manpower and channels of assistance;

(11) coordination of federal, state, and local emergency management activities;

(12) coordination of the state emergency management plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;

(13) coordination of federal and state energy emergency plans;

(14) provisions for providing information to local officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;

(15) a database of public facilities that may be used under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster, including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind disaster;

(16) provisions for quickly replenishing the food supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;

(17) provisions for the use of the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0155; and

(18) [(17)] other necessary matters relating to disasters.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.