BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4450

By: Raymond

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the emergency management training completed by members of the Emergency Management Council and the state emergency response commission. It has been suggested that imposing continuing education requirements for these individuals will help to ensure that leadership and emergency management provided by these entities during times of crisis will help keep Texans safe. H.B. 4450 seeks to address this issue by providing for training for the Emergency Management Council and the state emergency response commission.

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. 4450 amends the Government Code to require each member of the Emergency Management Council to complete a training course on emergency management of at least 16 hours every two years. The bill requires each member of the state emergency response commission to complete a training course on emergency management of at least 40 hours every two years. The bill excepts a member of the commission who completes the commission training and is a member of the council from the requirement to complete the council training. The bill requires a person to complete the training not later than the first anniversary of the date the person was appointed to the council or commission for the initial training course and not later than each second anniversary of that deadline for each subsequent training course.

H.B. 4450 requires the Texas Division of Emergency Management to develop the minimum curriculum standards for the training courses and to administer the training courses or approve training courses that meet the minimum curriculum standards. The bill requires each person serving on the council or commission on the bill's effective date to complete the training not later than September 1, 2022.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.