BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3266

By: Raymond

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

During recent statewide emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri, communication between public officials and those charged with responding to these dire situations proved critical. However, it was revealed that many local governments and responders encountered difficulties when attempting to communicate with one another. There have been calls to ensure that local governments and health departments are able to access relevant contact information during these emergencies. H.B. 3266 seeks to address this issue by requiring public officials and local health departments to submit certain contact information to the Texas Division of Emergency Management for use during a disaster or emergency.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3266 amends the Government Code to require each city manager, mayor, county judge, and director of a municipality's or county's local health department to submit to the Texas Division of Emergency Management the person's contact information to be used during a declared state of disaster or in other times of public emergency under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975.

H.B. 3266 amends the Health and Safety Code to require each city manager, mayor, and county judge to submit to the local health department of the municipality or county, as applicable, in which the person serves as the city manager, mayor, or county judge, the person's contact information to be used during a declared state of disaster or in other times of public emergency under the Local Public Health Reorganization Act.

H.B. 3266 requires that each applicable person submit the requisite information not later than January 1, 2022, and makes the information submitted confidential and exempt from disclosure under state public information law.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.