By: Lucio S.B. No. 2357

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to issues affecting counties and other political subdivisions of the state.

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

SECTION 1. Sections 418.005(a), (b), (c), and (e), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to:

(1) an elected law enforcement officer or county judge, or an appointed public officer of the state or of a political subdivision, who has management or supervisory responsibilities and:

(A) [(1)] whose position description, job duties, or assignment includes emergency management responsibilities; or

(B) [(2)] who plays a role in emergency preparedness, response, or recovery; and

(2) an emergency management coordinator designated under Section 418.1015(c) by the emergency management director of a county with a population of 500,000 or more.

(b) Each person described by Subsection (a) shall complete a course of training provided or approved by the division of not less than three hours regarding the responsibilities of state and local governments under this chapter not later than the 180th day after the date the person:

(1) takes the oath of office, if the person is required to take an oath of office to assume the person's duties as a public officer; [or]

(2) otherwise assumes responsibilities as a public officer, if the person is not required to take an oath of office to assume the person's duties; or

(3) is designated as an emergency management coordinator under Section 418.1015(c).

(c) The division shall develop and provide a training course related to the emergency management responsibilities of state-level officers and a training course related to the emergency management responsibilities of officers and emergency management coordinators of political subdivisions. The division shall ensure that the training courses satisfy the requirements of Subsection (b).

(e) The division or other entity providing the training shall provide a certificate of course completion to a person [public officers] who completes [complete] the training required by this section. A person [public officer] who completes the training required by this section shall maintain and make available for public inspection the record of the person's [public officer's] completion of the training.

SECTION 2. Section 418.102, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:

(a-1) An emergency management program required by Subsection (a) and maintained by a county, or in which a county participates, must provide for catastrophic debris management.

SECTION 3. Section 245.007(a), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to a building or facility that is owned by a county with a population of 2.3 [3.3] million or more and is located within the boundaries of another political subdivision.

SECTION 4. Section 262.0225, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:

(c) A county may receive bids or proposals under this subchapter in hard-copy format or through electronic transmission. Except as provided by Subsection (c-1), a [A] county shall accept any bids or proposals submitted in hard-copy format.

(c-1) A commissioners court of a county may by order require submission of bids or proposals under this subchapter through electronic transmission.

SECTION 5. Section 387.003(a-1), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) A district may perform inside or outside [the following functions in] the district a function that benefits the district and that the county is authorized to perform, including:

(1) the construction, maintenance, or improvement of roads or highways;

(2) the provision of law enforcement and detention services;

(3) the maintenance or improvement of libraries, museums, parks, or other recreational facilities;

(4) the provision of services that benefit the public health or welfare, including the provision of firefighting and fire prevention services; or

(5) the promotion of economic development and tourism.

SECTION 6. Section 391.0095(e), Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(e) A commission shall send to the governor, the state auditor, [the comptroller,] and the Legislative Budget Board a copy of each report and audit required under this section or under Section 391.009. The state auditor may review each audit and report, subject to a risk assessment performed by the state auditor and to the legislative audit committee's approval of including the review in the audit plan under Section 321.013, Government Code. If the state auditor reviews the audit or report, the state auditor must be given access to working papers and other supporting documentation that the state auditor determines is necessary to perform the review. If the state auditor finds significant issues involving the administration or operation of a commission or its programs, the state auditor shall report its findings and related recommendations to the legislative audit committee, the governor, and the commission. The governor and the legislative audit committee may direct the commission to prepare a corrective action plan or other response to the state auditor's findings or recommendations. The legislative audit committee may direct the state auditor to perform any additional audit or investigative work that the committee determines is necessary.

SECTION 7. Not later than March 1, 2020, each person who is required to complete a course of training under Section 418.005, Government Code, as amended by this Act, must complete the training.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.