S.B. No. 285

AN ACT

relating to information, outreach, and other actions regarding hurricane preparedness and mitigation.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 418.127, 418.128, and 418.129 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.127. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. The governor shall issue a proclamation each year before hurricane season instructing:

(1) individuals, including residential and commercial property owners, to prepare their property and communities for the upcoming hurricane season;

(2) state agencies to review and update their hurricane preparedness plans; and

(3) the following entities, to the extent practicable, to conduct community outreach and education activities on hurricane preparedness between May 25 and May 31 of each year:

(A) municipalities and counties;

(B) the division;

(C) the Texas Education Agency;

(D) the office of the comptroller;

(E) the Texas Department of Insurance; and

(F) the Department of State Health Services.

Sec. 418.128. STATE AGENCY HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. (a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the governor issues a proclamation under Section 418.127, the governor, in consultation with the division and each appropriate state agency as determined by the governor, shall publish on the office of the governor's Internet website a report on the preparedness of state agencies for hurricane response. The report must include:

(1) a list of each state agency involved in this state's response to a hurricane;

(2) contact information for each state agency in the event of a hurricane, including the name, e-mail address, and telephone number of the officer or employee who manages the state agency's response to a hurricane; and

(3) whether the officer or employee under Subdivision (2) has completed the emergency management training course described by Section 418.005.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the governor may, by executive order, take any action necessary to ensure each state agency listed under Subsection (a)(1) is able to respond to a hurricane. An executive order issued under this subsection must be published in the Texas Register and expires on the last day of the first regular session of the legislature to convene after the date the order is issued unless the governor specifies an earlier expiration date in the order.

(c) In this section, "response" includes any activity related to the prevention or discovery of, response to, or recovery from a hurricane.

Sec. 418.129. HOUSING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION. The General Land Office shall conduct a public information campaign each year before and during hurricane season to provide local officials and the public with information regarding housing assistance that may be available under state and federal law in the event of a major hurricane or flooding event, including information about types of assistance unavailable under that law.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 285 passed the Senate on April 4, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 21, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 285 passed the House, with amendment, on May 14, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 2, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

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Date

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Governor