86R13421 SRA-D
 
  By: Paul H.B. No. 2320
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to services provided during and following a disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 418.054, 418.055, and 418.056 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 418.054.  COMMUNICATIONS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A
  DISASTER. The division, in collaboration with the Texas A&M
  AgriLife Extension Service and other appropriate entities, shall to
  the extent practicable include private wireless communication,
  Internet, and cable service providers in the disaster planning
  process and determine the availability of the providers' portable
  satellite communications equipment and portable mobile telephone
  towers to assist in response and recovery immediately following
  disasters.
         Sec. 418.055.  HARDENING OF UTILITY FACILITIES AND CRITICAL
  INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) In this section, "critical infrastructure"
  includes hospitals and fire stations.
         (b)  The division shall identify methods for hardening
  utility facilities and critical infrastructure in order to maintain
  operations of essential services during disasters.
         (c)  The division shall, in collaboration with the Texas A&M
  AgriLife Extension Service, the Public Utility Commission of Texas,
  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Railroad
  Commission of Texas:
               (1)  locate utility facilities and critical
  infrastructure in this state and determine methods for effectively
  reducing risks and impacts on those facilities and that
  infrastructure from a disaster; and
               (2)  encourage public and private entities that are
  responsible for utility facilities and critical infrastructure to
  implement the methods determined under Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 418.056.  REPORT ON BUILDING TRADE SERVICES FOLLOWING
  DISASTERS. (a) Not later than November 1, 2020, the division shall
  submit a report to members of the legislature on improving the
  oversight, accountability, and availability of building trade
  services following disasters. The report must include:
               (1)  strategies to increase the availability of
  tradespeople, including plumbers and electricians, following a
  disaster;
               (2)  approaches to increase prosecutions of alleged
  fraud related to building trade services offered following a
  disaster; and
               (3)  methods to encourage performance bond
  requirements in contracts for building trade services to be
  performed following a disaster. 
         (b)  The division shall consult with appropriate state
  entities, including the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and
  Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, local governments,
  trade associations, and law enforcement groups in preparing the
  report described by Subsection (a).
         (c)  This section expires January 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 17.010.  DISASTER BILLING AWARENESS. The commission in
  cooperation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall:
               (1)  promote public awareness of bill payment
  assistance available during a disaster for electric, water, and
  wastewater services, including assistance for consumers on level
  billing plans; and
               (2)  provide the public with information about billing
  practices during a disaster to ensure that consumers of electric,
  water, and wastewater services have an adequate understanding of
  their rights.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas
  Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utility Commission
  of Texas shall begin the public awareness campaign required by
  Section 17.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.