| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to an emergency services coordinator for the Department of |
|
|
Family and Protective Services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 40, Human Resources Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 40.0327 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 40.0327. EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATOR. (a) The |
|
|
department shall designate a department employee as the emergency |
|
|
services coordinator to: |
|
|
(1) manage the department's efforts to prepare for and |
|
|
react to any natural disaster or emergency situation; and |
|
|
(2) serve as a liaison between the department and |
|
|
other state agencies and nonprofit agencies that provide assistance |
|
|
to families receiving services from the department. |
|
|
(b) The department's emergency services coordinator shall: |
|
|
(1) coordinate emergency preparedness efforts to |
|
|
ensure individuals served by department programs are informed about |
|
|
locations where services will be provided during a natural disaster |
|
|
or emergency situation; |
|
|
(2) ensure all foster and adoptive families are |
|
|
informed about a potential natural disaster or emergency situation |
|
|
and the emergency procedures they should follow; |
|
|
(3) coordinate with other state agencies and other |
|
|
persons to ensure that children in the conservatorship of the |
|
|
department have access to health care services during a natural |
|
|
disaster or emergency situation; |
|
|
(4) develop partnerships with local law enforcement |
|
|
agencies to ensure that intakes, investigations, and removals |
|
|
continue during a natural disaster or emergency situation; and |
|
|
(5) monitor evacuations of facilities and homes that |
|
|
house children in the conservatorship of the department and |
|
|
maintain contact with those facilities and homes throughout a |
|
|
natural disaster or emergency situation to ensure the safety and |
|
|
well-being of the children. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |