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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, and 418.056 to read as |
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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. 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. 418.056. STUDY ON IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS DURING |
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DISASTERS. (a) The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M |
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Engineering Extension Service, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
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Service, and other appropriate entities, shall conduct a study on |
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improving communication during a disaster. The study must: |
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(1) consider ways to improve and standardize the use |
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of social media as a communication tool during and after a disaster; |
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(2) 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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(3) 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; |
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(4) examine how private utility providers and the use |
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of the providers' portable satellite communications equipment and |
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portable mobile telephone towers may assist in response and |
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recovery after disasters; and |
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(5) examine how the state may use data analytics for |
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more effective and timely analysis of information to improve |
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disaster management. |
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(b) Not later than August 31, 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 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |