BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 799
86R4452 YDB-D	By: Alvarado
	Business & Commerce
	3/5/2019
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

In the General Land Office's post-Harvey report Texas at Risk, the first recommendation made was the creation of a Business Advisory Council by the state. The goal of the council will be to serve as a conduit for private business expertise in natural disaster mitigation and recovery.

 

The Texas private sector has developed out of necessity a remarkable level of expertise in disaster recovery, mitigation, and resilience efforts. The private sector could add considerable value to state and local recovery managers if a formal mechanism could be created for seeking the input of the business community on disaster recovery, particularly on housing issues.

 

What the bill does:

 

Creates the Business Advisory Council by statute, provides for the appointment of members and the length of their terms, dictates how the council shall elect its president, and lays out the protocol for the council's annual report.

 

This Council is not to be a new state agency, nor is it to be authorized to spend money, write regulations, or implement programs.

 

Highlights

 

�         Of the twelve (12) councilmembers four (4) shall be appointed by the governor,  four (4) by the lieutenant governor, and four (4) by the speaker of the house of the house of representatives.

 

�         The councilmembers shall be appointed to staggered four-year terms.

 

�         Councilmembers shall not be entitled to compensation, only reimbursement for travel expenses.

 

�         The council shall elect a president from among its members.

 

�         The council shall submit a report on its activities, advice, and proposed solutions to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House

 

As proposed, S.B. 799 amends current law relating to the creation of a business advisory council to provide advice on economic recovery following a disaster.

 

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. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, by adding Section 418.054, as follows:

 

Sec. 418.054. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) Defines "advisory council."

 

(b) Establishes 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.

 

(c) Provides that the advisory council is composed of certain members who represent business in this state.

 

(d) Provides that the members of the advisory council serve staggered four-year terms.

 

(e) Entitles an advisory council member to reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the advisory council, but does not entitle a member to compensation.

 

(f) Requires the advisory council members to elect a presiding officer from among the members.

 

(g) Requires the advisory council to advise the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) on policies, rules, and program operations to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster 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.

 

(h) Requires the advisory council to meet at the times and locations determined by the presiding officer, not to exceed four meetings each year.

 

(i) Requires the advisory council, not later than November 1 of each even‑numbered year, to submit a report on the advisory council's activities, advice, and proposed solutions to TDEM, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.

 

(j) Requires TDEM to provide administrative support to the advisory council.

 

(k) Provides that Chapter 2110 (State Agency Advisory Committees) does not apply to the advisory council.

 

SECTION 2. Requires the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to appoint members to serve specific terms to the business advisory council, as required by Section 418.054, Government Code, as added by this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.