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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the declaration of a local state of disaster. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 418.108, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (b-1) and |
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(d-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the presiding |
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officer of the governing body of a political subdivision may |
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declare a local state of disaster if the presiding officer finds a |
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disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of disaster |
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is imminent. |
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(b-1) An order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or |
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terminating a local state of disaster must include: |
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(1) a description of the nature of the disaster; |
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(2) a designation of the area threatened; and |
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(3) a description of the conditions that have brought |
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the local state of disaster about or made possible the termination |
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of the local state of disaster. |
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(c) An order or proclamation issued under this section |
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[declaring, continuing, or terminating a local state of disaster] |
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shall be given prompt and general publicity and shall be filed |
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promptly with the city secretary, the county clerk, or the joint |
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board's official records, as applicable. If a political |
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subdivision to which the order or proclamation applies maintains an |
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Internet website, the political subdivision shall post a copy of |
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the order on the political subdivision's Internet website. |
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(d-1) On request of the presiding officer of the governing |
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body of a political subdivision, the governor may waive or suspend a |
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deadline imposed by a statute or the orders or rules of a state |
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agency on the political subdivision, including a deadline relating |
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to a budget or ad valorem tax, if the waiver or suspension is |
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reasonably necessary for the political subdivision to cope with a |
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local state of disaster declared under this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |