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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing information and communication regarding and |
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during a disaster. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 418.054, 418.055, 418.056, 418.057, and |
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418.058 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.054. COORDINATING 9-1-1 TEXT MESSAGE CAPABILITY. |
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The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
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Service, shall coordinate state and local government efforts to |
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make 9-1-1 emergency service capable of receiving text messages |
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from a cellular telephone or other wireless communication device. |
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Sec. 418.055. SOCIAL MEDIA USE DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS. |
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The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M Engineering |
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Extension Service and other appropriate public and private |
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entities, shall develop standards for the use of social media as a |
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communication tool by governmental entities during and after a |
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disaster. The standards must: |
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(1) require state agencies, political subdivisions, |
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first responders, and volunteers that use social media during and |
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after a disaster to post consistent and clear information; |
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(2) optimize the effectiveness of social media use |
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during and after a disaster; and |
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(3) require certain official social media accounts be |
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used during and after a disaster only for providing credible |
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sources of information. |
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Sec. 418.056. DISASTER MOBILE APPLICATION. (a) The |
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division, in consultation with the Texas A&M Forest Service, shall |
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develop a mobile application for wireless communication devices to |
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communicate critical information during a disaster directly to |
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disaster victims and first responders. |
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(b) The mobile application may provide information on: |
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(1) road and weather conditions during a disaster; and |
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(2) disaster response and recovery activities. |
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Sec. 418.057. USE OF DATA ANALYTICS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT. |
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To the extent feasible, the division shall use data analytics |
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software to integrate data from federal, state, local, and |
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nongovernmental sources to more effectively manage disaster |
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response and recovery. |
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Sec. 418.058. STUDY ON STANDARD COMMUNICATION FORMAT. (a) |
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To improve the state's response to disasters, the division, in |
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consultation with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, |
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shall conduct a study on the use of a standard communication format |
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by first responders to create a common operating framework during a |
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disaster. The study must: |
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(1) examine the costs and benefits of promoting the |
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use of a standard communication format to create a single |
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comprehensive common operating framework; |
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(2) identify any costs that first responders may incur |
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in acquiring equipment complying with a standard communication |
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format; and |
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(3) identify necessary actions to adopt a standard |
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communication format. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2020, the division shall |
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submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the |
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legislature a report on the findings of the study. |
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(c) This section expires December 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.127 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.127. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS COMMUNITY OUTREACH. To |
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the extent practicable, the following entities shall conduct |
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community outreach, including public awareness campaigns, and |
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education activities on disaster preparedness each year: |
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(1) municipalities and counties; |
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(2) the division; |
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(3) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(4) the office of the comptroller; |
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(5) the Texas Department of Insurance; |
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(6) the Texas Department of Transportation; |
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(7) the Texas Department of Housing and Community |
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Affairs; and |
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(8) the Department of State Health Services. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.193 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.193. DISASTER WEB PORTAL. The Texas A&M |
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University System, in coordination with the governor and the |
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division, shall develop a comprehensive disaster web portal. The |
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web portal must: |
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(1) provide disaster information to the public, |
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including information on programs and services available to |
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disaster victims and funding for and expenditures of disaster |
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assistance programs; |
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(2) include information on disaster response and |
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recovery activities; and |
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(3) provide information on obtaining assistance from |
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the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state agencies, organized |
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volunteer groups, and any other entities providing disaster |
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assistance. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |