By: Perry S.B. No. 1897
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the declaration of a local state of disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.108, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (c) and by adding Subsections (b-1)
  and (d-1) to read as follows:
         (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the presiding
  officer of the governing body of a political subdivision may
  declare a local state of disaster if the presiding officer finds a
  disaster has occurred or that the occurrence or threat of disaster
  is imminent.
         (b-1) An order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or
  terminating a local state of disaster issued under this section
  must include:
               (1) a description of the nature of the disaster;
               (2) a designation of the area threatened; and
               (3) a description of the conditions that have brought
  the local state of disaster about or made possible the termination
  of the local state of disaster.
         (c) An order or proclamation declaring, continuing, or
  terminating a local state of disaster shall be given prompt and
  general publicity and shall be filed promptly with the city
  secretary, the county clerk, or the joint board's official records,
  as applicable.  If the political subdivision to which the order or
  proclamation applies maintains an Internet website, a copy of the
  order or proclamation shall also be posted on the political
  subdivision's Internet website.
         (d-1) In accordance with Section 418.016(e), the presiding
  officer of a political subdivision may request the governor to
  waive or suspend a deadline imposed by a statute or the orders or
  rules of a state agency on the political subdivision, including a
  deadline relating to a budget or ad valorem tax, if the waiver or
  suspension is reasonably necessary for the political subdivision to
  cope with a local disaster declared under this section.
         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, 2017.