By: Morrison, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 2305

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 11, 2019; April 24, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on Water & Rural Affairs; May 13, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 13, 2019, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a work group on enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management personnel.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:

(1) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section 418.004, Government Code.

(2) "Emergency management director" and "emergency management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator, respectively, designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code.

(3) "Work group" means the work group established under Section 2 of this Act.

SECTION 2. WORK GROUP. The Texas Division of Emergency Management shall 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. STUDY AND PROPOSAL. (a) As part of the study and proposal under Section 2 of this Act, the work group shall:

(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, 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) In conducting the assessment required by Subsection (a)(1) of this section, the work group shall 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) Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall submit the proposal required under this section to:

(1) members of the legislature; and

(2) the governor.

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

SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

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