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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to emergency and disaster management, response, and |
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recovery. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 418.005, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) The training course provided under this section |
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related to the emergency management responsibilities of officers of |
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political subdivisions must include training based on the disaster |
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response guide as required by Section 418.054(b). |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 418.054, 418.055, 418.056, and 418.057 |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.054. DISASTER RESPONSE GUIDE. (a) The division |
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shall develop a model guide for local officials regarding disaster |
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response and recovery. The guide must provide a comprehensive |
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approach to disaster recovery by local officials and include |
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information on: |
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(1) contracting for debris removal; |
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(2) obtaining federal disaster funding; |
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(3) coordinating the availability and construction of |
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short-term and long-term housing; and |
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(4) obtaining assistance from local, state, and |
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federal volunteer organizations. |
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(b) The division, in coordination with the Texas A&M |
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AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension |
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Service, shall provide training based on the disaster response |
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guide as a part of the emergency management training course |
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provided under Section 418.005. |
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Sec. 418.055. CATASTROPHIC DEBRIS MANAGEMENT PLAN AND |
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TRAINING. (a) The division, in consultation with the Emergency |
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Management Council, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the |
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Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality, the Texas Department of Transportation, the |
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comptroller, and political subdivisions, shall develop a |
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catastrophic debris management plan and model guide for use by |
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political subdivisions in the event of a disaster. |
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(b) The plan must: |
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(1) provide a guide for clearance and disposal of |
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debris caused by a disaster; and |
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(2) include: |
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(A) provisions for the use of trench burners and |
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air curtain incinerators of vegetative debris, including |
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identifying sources of equipment for use immediately following a |
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disaster; and |
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(B) contracting standards and a model contract |
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for use in procuring debris removal services following a disaster. |
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(c) The division shall consult with the comptroller about |
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including a contract for debris removal services on the schedule of |
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multiple award contracts developed under Subchapter I, Chapter |
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2155, or in another cooperative purchasing program administered by |
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the comptroller. |
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(d) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall |
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establish a training program for state agencies and political |
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subdivisions on the use of trench burners in debris removal. |
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Sec. 418.056. WET DEBRIS STUDY GROUP. (a) In this section, |
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"study group" means the wet debris study group established under |
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this section. |
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(b) The wet debris study group is established and consists |
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of the following members: |
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(1) each member of the Emergency Management Council; |
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(2) representatives from river authorities appointed |
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by the governor; |
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(3) environmental experts appointed by the governor; |
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and |
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(4) a representative from the Texas Historical |
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Commission appointed by the governor. |
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(c) The study group shall study issues related to preventing |
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the creation of wet debris and best practices for clearing wet |
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debris following a disaster, including: |
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(1) the creation of maintenance programs for bodies of |
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water in this state; |
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(2) issues related to the clearance of wet debris on |
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private property following a disaster; and |
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(3) potential sources of funding for the clearance of |
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wet debris following a disaster. |
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(d) Not later than November 1, 2020, the study group shall |
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submit a report containing recommendations on the issues described |
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by Subsection (c) to each member of the legislature. |
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(e) The study group is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2021. |
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Sec. 418.057. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORK GROUP. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Emergency management director" and "emergency |
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management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator, |
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respectively, designated under Section 418.1015. |
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(2) "Work group" means the work group established |
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under this section. |
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(b) The division shall establish a work group of persons |
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knowledgeable on emergency management to study and develop a |
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proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency |
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management directors and emergency management coordinators. |
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(c) As part of the study and proposal under Subsection (b), |
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the work group shall: |
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(1) assess the training and credentials necessary for |
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emergency management directors and emergency management |
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coordinators to effectively oversee the response to and recovery |
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from a disaster; and |
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(2) consult with institutions of higher education as |
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defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, on the development of |
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degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs |
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that exist in this state on September 1, 2019. |
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(d) In conducting the assessment required by Subsection |
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(c)(1), the work group shall consider: |
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(1) whether the differences in geography, population, |
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and critical infrastructure between emergency management |
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directors' or emergency management coordinators' jurisdictions |
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warrant different levels of training and credentialing; |
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(2) whether the legislature should enact laws |
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requiring an emergency management director or emergency management |
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coordinator to participate in emergency management training and |
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credentialing before overseeing the response to and recovery from a |
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disaster; |
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(3) whether to implement incentives for emergency |
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management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any |
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other emergency management personnel to complete additional |
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training and continuing education; and |
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(4) proposals for paying the cost for training for |
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emergency management directors and emergency management |
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coordinators that is more rigorous than the training required by |
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law for the directors and coordinators on September 1, 2019. |
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(e) Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall |
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submit the proposal required under this section to: |
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(1) the members of the legislature; and |
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(2) the governor. |
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(f) The work group is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2020, the Texas |
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Division of Emergency Management shall develop the catastrophic |
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debris management plan and model guide required by Section 418.055, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |