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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to county contracts for emergency management consulting |
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services; requiring a license; authorizing fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 418.1016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.1016. COUNTY CONTRACTS FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT |
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CONSULTING SERVICES; LICENSE REQUIRED; FEES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Emergency manager" means a person who is licensed |
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under this section by the licensing department to provide |
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consulting services on emergency management issues to counties. |
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(2) "Licensing department" means the Texas Department |
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of Licensing and Regulation. |
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(b) Each county shall contract with an emergency manager for |
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consulting and other services related to emergency management in |
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the event of a disaster that affects the territory of the county. A |
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county may comply with the requirement under this subsection by |
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jointly contracting with one or more other counties as provided by |
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Chapter 791 for the services of an emergency manager. |
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(c) A person may not provide consulting or other services |
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related to emergency management under a contract with a county as |
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provided by Subsection (b) unless that person holds a license |
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issued under this section. |
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(d) The licensing department by rule shall establish |
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procedures for administering the licensing of emergency managers, |
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including procedures for: |
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(1) applying for and issuing or denying the license; |
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(2) renewing or revoking the license; and |
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(3) taking any required examination. |
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(e) To be eligible for a license under this section, an |
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applicant must: |
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(1) successfully complete the educational program |
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established under Subsection (f)(1); and |
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(2) comply with the requirements of the licensing |
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department established under Subsection (d). |
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(f) The division by rule shall establish: |
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(1) minimum curriculum standards for an educational |
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program required to obtain a license issued under this section; |
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(2) minimum curriculum standards for continuing |
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education programs required to renew a license issued under this |
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section; and |
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(3) minimum qualifications for instructors providing |
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instruction as part of an educational program described by |
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Subdivision (1) or a continuing education program described by |
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Subdivision (2). |
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(g) The division may update minimum standards or |
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qualifications established under Subsection (f) on approval of the |
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licensing department. |
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(h) The licensing department may set fees in amounts |
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reasonable and necessary to cover the cost of administering the |
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licensing program established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation and |
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the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement Section 418.1016, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. A county shall comply with Section 418.1016(b), |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, |
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2020. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |