BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 285

By: Miles

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A recent report published by the Texas General Land Office detailed lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey and recommended certain changes to better prepare for the next natural disaster. C.S.S.B. 285 seeks to improve hurricane preparedness in Texas by requiring a public information campaign that provides information and outreach regarding hurricane preparedness and mitigation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 285 amends the Government Code to require the governor to issue a proclamation each year before hurricane season instructing individuals to prepare their property and communities for the upcoming hurricane season; state agencies to review and update their hurricane preparedness plans; and certain specified governmental entities, to the extent practicable, to conduct community outreach and education activities on hurricane preparedness between May 25 and May 31 of each year.

C.S.S.B. 285 requires the governor, not later than the 30th day after the date the governor issues such a proclamation and in consultation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and each appropriate state agency determined by the governor, to publish on the office of the governor's website a report on the preparedness of state agencies for hurricane response. The bill sets out the required content of the report. The bill authorizes the governor, by executive order, to take any action necessary to ensure that each applicable state agency is able to respond to a hurricane. The bill requires such an executive order to be published in the Texas Register and establishes that the order expires on the last day of the first regular session of the legislature to convene after the date the order is issued unless the governor specifies an earlier expiration date in the order.

C.S.S.B. 285 requires the General Land Office to conduct a public information campaign each year before and during hurricane season to provide local officials and the public with information regarding housing assistance that may be available under state and federal law in the event of a major hurricane or flooding event.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 285 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a requirement for the governor to publish a report on the preparedness of state agencies for hurricane response and includes provisions setting out the content of the report.

The substitute includes an authorization for the governor to issue an executive order to ensure that each applicable state agency is able to respond to a hurricane and a provision setting out additional requirements for the order.