S.B. No. 982

AN ACT

relating to the provision of disaster and emergency services, including health care services, to certain populations.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 418.054 and 418.055 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.054. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SPECIALTY CARE POPULATIONS. The division, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services and local governmental entities that have established emergency management plans, shall develop a plan to increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters in the provision of shelter and care for specialty care populations during a disaster.

Sec. 418.055. ACCESS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; VOLUNTEER MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS. (a) The division, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services, shall increase awareness of and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize services provided by local volunteer networks, including the Medical Reserve Corps, that are available in the area to respond during a disaster or emergency.

(b) The division shall develop a plan to create and manage state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public health region to assist counties that lack access to a volunteer network described by Subsection (a).

(c) The Department of State Health Services shall collaborate with local medical organizations that represent licensed physicians who practice in a county or public health region to:

(1) ensure the physicians are informed about local government emergency response teams and those teams are aware of physician resources in the county or region, as applicable;

(2) compile and maintain a list of physicians in the county or region and the contact information for the physicians;

(3) provide up-to-date information about resources for physicians regarding disaster planning, including continuing medical education;

(4) promote the Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry and the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals;

(5) consider incentives to assist with recruiting physician volunteers; and

(6) encourage physicians and health professionals to advocate for disaster planning measures in health care facilities.

SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F-1. DISASTER ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WHO ARE ELDERLY

AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Sec. 418.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual, a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least one major life activity of that individual.

(2) "Task force" means the task force established under Section 418.132.

Sec. 418.132. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The task force on disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities is established to study methods to more effectively:

(1) assist persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation; and

(2) accommodate persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities in emergency shelters.

Sec. 418.133. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed of 11 members appointed by the governor, including:

(1) three members who are first responders;

(2) one member who represents municipalities;

(3) one member who represents counties; and

(4) six members who represent persons with disabilities.

(b) A majority of the members appointed to the task force must be persons with disabilities or guardians of children with disabilities.

(c) Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of three or four members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year.

(d) The governor shall designate one member of the task force to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. The presiding officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor.

Sec. 418.134. TASK FORCE STUDY. (a) The task force shall study methods to more effectively accommodate persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation. The study must examine and make recommendations on:

(1) the provision of informational materials to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities before a disaster occurs on disaster or emergency evacuation;

(2) the accessibility of transportation and medical supplies to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster;

(3) different solutions for accommodating persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation of a rural or urban area;

(4) the ability to effectively communicate with persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster; and

(5) the availability of volunteers to assist persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during an emergency evacuation.

(b) The task force shall develop and submit a written report of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than December 1, 2020.

(c) This section expires June 1, 2021.

SECTION 3. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the division may, but is not required to, implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the Senate on April 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; May 24, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 25, 2019, House granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the House, with amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 3, two present not voting; May 25, 2019, House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor