BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 2305

86R20022 JCG-D

By: Morrison et al. (Kolkhorst)

 

Water & Rural Affairs

 

5/4/2019

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, formed after Hurricane Harvey, issued a report that called for the development of a proposal for the legislature for training and credentialing emergency management personnel to help assist in the preparation for and recovery from future storms. H.B. 2305 provides for the establishment of a work group to study and develop a proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of those personnel on the state or local level.

 

H.B. 2305 requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management to establish a work group of persons knowledgeable on emergency management to study and develop a proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management personnel on the state or local level. The bill requires the work group to do the following as a part of the study and proposal:

 

         assess the training and credentials necessary for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management personnel on the state or local level to effectively oversee the response to and recovery from a disaster, including reviewing current required training courses; and

 

         consult with institutions of higher education on the development of degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs that exist in Texas on the bill's effective date.

 

H.B. 2305 sets out certain required considerations for the work group in conducting the assessment and requires the work group, not later than November 1, 2020, to submit the proposal to members of the legislature and the governor. The work group is abolished and the bill's provisions expire January 1, 2021.

 

H.B. 2305 amends current law relating to a work group on enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management personnel.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. Defines "disaster," "emergency management director," "emergency management coordinator" and "work group" for purposes of this Act.

 

SECTION 2. WORK GROUP. Requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management to establish a work group of persons knowledgeable on emergency management to study and develop a proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management personnel on the state or local level.

 

 

SECTION 3. (a) Requires the work group, as part of the study and proposal under Section 2 of this Act, to:

(1) assess the training and credentials necessary for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management personnel on the state or local level to effectively oversee the response to and recovery from a disaster, including reviewing current required training courses; and

(2) consult with institutions of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, on the development of degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs that exist in this state on the effective date of this Act.

(b) Requires the work group, in conducting the assessment required by Subsection (a)(1) of this section, to consider:

(1) whether the differences in geography, population, and critical infrastructure between emergency management directors' or emergency management coordinators' jurisdictions warrant different levels of training and credentialing;

 

(2) whether the legislature should enact laws requiring an emergency management director or emergency management coordinator to participate in emergency management training and credentialing before overseeing the response to and recovery from a disaster;

 

(3) whether to include in any training required under Subdivision (2) of this subsection information on disaster finance, damage assessment, disaster contracting, debris management, and skills needed to participate in federal emergency management programs;

 

(4) whether to implement incentives for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any other emergency management personnel to complete additional training and continuing education; and

 

(5) proposals for paying the cost for training for emergency management directors and emergency management coordinators that is more rigorous than the training required by law for the directors and coordinators on the effective date of this Act.

 

(c) Requires the work group, not later than November 1, 2020, to submit the proposal required under this section to:

(1) members of the legislature; and

 

(2) the governor.

 

SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. Provides that the work group is abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2021.

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: September 1, 2019.