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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to information, outreach, and other actions regarding |
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hurricane preparedness and mitigation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 418.127, 418.128, and 418.129 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 418.127. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. The governor shall |
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issue a proclamation each year before hurricane season instructing: |
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(1) individuals, including residential and commercial |
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property owners, to prepare their property and communities for the |
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upcoming hurricane season; |
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(2) state agencies to review and update their |
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hurricane preparedness plans; and |
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(3) the following entities, to the extent practicable, |
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to conduct community outreach and education activities on hurricane |
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preparedness between May 25 and May 31 of each year: |
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(A) municipalities and counties; |
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(B) the division; |
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(C) the Texas Education Agency; |
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(D) the office of the comptroller; |
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(E) the Texas Department of Insurance; and |
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(F) the Department of State Health Services. |
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Sec. 418.128. STATE AGENCY HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. (a) |
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Not later than the 30th day after the date the governor issues a |
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proclamation under Section 418.127, the governor, in consultation |
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with the division and each appropriate state agency as determined |
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by the governor, shall publish on the office of the governor's |
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Internet website a report on the preparedness of state agencies for |
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hurricane response. The report must include: |
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(1) a list of each state agency involved in this |
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state's response to a hurricane; |
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(2) contact information for each state agency in the |
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event of a hurricane, including the name, e-mail address, and |
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telephone number of the officer or employee who manages the state |
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agency's response to a hurricane; and |
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(3) whether the officer or employee under Subdivision |
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(2) has completed the emergency management training course |
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described by Section 418.005. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the governor may, by |
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executive order, take any action necessary to ensure each state |
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agency listed under Subsection (a)(1) is able to respond to a |
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hurricane. An executive order issued under this subsection must be |
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published in the Texas Register and expires on the last day of the |
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first regular session of the legislature to convene after the date |
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the order is issued unless the governor specifies an earlier |
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expiration date in the order. |
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(c) In this section, "response" includes any activity |
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related to the prevention or discovery of, response to, or recovery |
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from a hurricane. |
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Sec. 418.129. HOUSING ASSISTANCE INFORMATION. The General |
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Land Office shall conduct a public information campaign each year |
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before and during hurricane season to provide local officials and |
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the public with information regarding housing assistance that may |
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be available under state and federal law in the event of a major |
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hurricane or flooding event, including information about types of |
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assistance unavailable under that law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |