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Amend SB 982 (house committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F-1. DISASTER ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WHO ARE ELDERLY AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Sec. 418.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity of that individual.
(2) "Task force" means the task force established under Section 418.132.
Sec. 418.132. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The task force on disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities is established to:
(1) administer the grant program under Section 418.134; and
(2) study methods to more effectively:
(A) assist persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation; and
(B) accommodate persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities in emergency shelters.
Sec. 418.133. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed of 11 members appointed by the governor, including:
(1) three members who are first responders;
(2) one member who represents municipalities;
(3) one member who represents counties; and
(4) six members who represent persons with disabilities, including one who represents persons who are blind, one who represents persons who are deaf, and one selected from a list provided by ADAPT of Texas.
(b) A majority of the members appointed to the task force must be persons with disabilities or guardians of children with disabilities.
(c) Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of three or four members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(d) The governor shall designate one member of the task force to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. The presiding officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
Sec. 418.134. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From funds appropriated for the purpose and gifts, grants, and donations accepted for the purpose, the division shall award grants as provided by this subchapter to provide financial support for:
(1) activities that include persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities in the preparation for, response to, recovery from, and mitigation of disasters;
(2) strategies and procedures that implement community-level practices that decrease deaths, injuries, and harm resulting from disasters to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities;
(3) the development of state and local policies that reinforce and promote the inclusion of persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities in community preparation for disasters; and
(4) research related to disasters and persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities.
(b) The task force shall review grant proposals and recommend grant recipients to the division. The division shall award grants based on those recommendations.
(c) The division shall establish procedures to administer the grant program, including a procedure for the submission of a proposal.
(d) The division shall enter into a contract with each grant recipient that includes performance requirements. The division shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract. The contract must authorize the division to recoup grant money from a grant recipient for failure of the grant recipient to comply with the terms of the contract.
(e) The division may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the purpose of awarding grants under this section.
Sec. 418.135. TASK FORCE STUDY. (a) The task force shall study methods to more effectively accommodate persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation. The study must examine and make recommendations on:
(1) the provision of informational materials to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities before a disaster occurs on disaster or emergency evacuation;
(2) the accessibility of transportation and medical supplies to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster;
(3) different solutions for accommodating persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation of a rural or urban area;
(4) the ability to effectively communicate with persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster; and
(5) the availability of volunteers to assist persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during an emergency evacuation.
(b) The task force shall develop and submit a written report of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than December 1, 2020.
(c) This section expires June 1, 2021.