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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 799

By: Alvarado

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

A report by the General Land Office following Hurricane Harvey recommended the creation of a business advisory council as a formal mechanism by which state and local recovery managers could access the input and expertise of the business community on disaster recovery, particularly on housing issues. S.B. 799 seeks to fulfill this recommendation by creating the business advisory council to advise the Texas Division of Emergency Management on disaster response matters.

 

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

 

S.B. 799 amends the Government Code to establish the business advisory council to provide advice and expertise on actions state and local governments can take to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster. The bill sets out the composition of the 12-member council and provides for the members' terms of service, reimbursement of expenses, frequency of meetings, and election of a presiding officer. The bill requires the council to perform the following duties:

·         advise the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) on policies, rules, and program operations to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster;

·         advise TDEM on the state resources and services needed to assist businesses in recovering from a catastrophic loss of electric power; and

·         propose solutions to address inefficiencies or problems in the state or local governmental disaster response with respect to impact on businesses and the economy.

 

S.B. 799 requires the council, not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year, to submit a report on the council's activities, advice, and proposed solutions to TDEM, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. The bill requires TDEM to provide administrative support to the council and exempts the council from statutory provisions relating to state agency advisory committees. The bill provides for the allocation among the appointing authorities of initial appointments to council positions for which the staggered terms expire February 1, 2021; February 1, 2022; and February 1, 2023.

 

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2019.