By: Burrows H.B. No. 3
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to state and local government responses to a pandemic
  disaster, including the establishment of the Pandemic Disaster
  Legislative Oversight Committee, and to in-person hospital
  visitation during a disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(6), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (6)  "Other agency of higher education" means The
  University of Texas System, System Administration; The University
  of Texas at El Paso Museum; Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute
  at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; The
  Texas A&M University System, Administrative and General Offices;
  Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service;
  Rodent and Predatory Animal Control Service (a part of the Texas A&M
  AgriLife Extension Service); Texas A&M Engineering Experiment
  Station (including the Texas A&M Transportation Institute); Texas
  A&M Engineering Extension Service; Texas A&M Forest Service; Texas
  Division of Emergency Management; Texas Tech University Museum;
  Texas State University System, System Administration; Sam Houston
  Memorial Museum; Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum; Cotton
  Research Committee of Texas; Texas Water Resources Institute; Texas
  A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; and any other unit,
  division, institution, or agency which shall be so designated by
  statute or which may be established to operate as a component part
  of any public senior college or university, or which may be so
  classified as provided in this chapter.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 75, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter D to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER D. TEXAS EPIDEMIC PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE
         Sec. 75.301.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of regents of The
  University of Texas System.
               (2)  "Health science center" means The University of
  Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
               (3)  "Institute" means the Texas Epidemic Public Health
  Institute.
         Sec. 75.302.  ESTABLISHMENT. The board shall establish and
  maintain the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute at the health
  science center.
         Sec. 75.303.  ROLE AND SCOPE. The institute shall establish
  and maintain a public health reserve network of public health
  professionals, community health workers, state and local public
  health agencies, health care organizations, universities
  throughout the state, and other relevant entities and persons for
  the purpose of coordinating efforts to:
               (1)  protect public health in this state;
               (2)  support pandemic and epidemic disaster
  preparedness and response components of the state emergency
  management plan required by Section 418.042, Government Code; and
               (3)  advise and make recommendations to the Pandemic
  Disaster Legislative Oversight Committee established under Chapter
  329, Government Code.
         Sec. 75.304.  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The administration of
  the institute is under the direction of the chancellor of The
  University of Texas System and the board through the president of
  the health science center.
         (b)  The Department of State Health Services shall provide
  the institute with access to relevant and timely data necessary for
  the institute to perform its duties.
         Sec. 75.305.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The institute
  may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the
  purposes of the institute.
         Sec. 75.306.  INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR REVIEW BY
  COMPTROLLER. (a) The institute biennially shall commission an
  independent financial audit of its activities from a certified
  public accounting firm. The institute shall provide the audit to
  the comptroller.
         (b)  The comptroller shall review and evaluate the audit and
  biennially issue a public report of that review.
         Sec. 75.307.  APPROPRIATION CONTINGENCY. The board is
  required to implement a provision of this subchapter only if the
  legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
  the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the board may, but is not required to, implement the
  provision using other money available to the board for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 329 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 329. PANDEMIC DISASTER LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
         Sec. 329.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Committee" means the Pandemic Disaster
  Legislative Oversight Committee.
               (2)  "Pandemic disaster" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 418A.003(2).
         Sec. 329.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; COMPOSITION. (a) The Pandemic
  Disaster Legislative Oversight Committee is established to:
               (1)  consider the impact on this state and its
  residents of a state of pandemic disaster declared by the governor;
  and
               (2)  provide legislative oversight of pandemic
  disaster declarations.
         (b)  The committee is composed of 16 members as follows:
               (1)  the lieutenant governor;
               (2)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (3)  the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance or its
  successor;
               (4)  the chair of the Senate Committee on State Affairs
  or its successor;
               (5)  the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and
  Human Services or its successor;
               (6)  the chair of the Senate Committee on Education or
  its successor;
               (7)  the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations
  or its successor;
               (8)  the chair of the House Committee on State Affairs
  or its successor;
               (9)  the chair of the House Committee on Public Health
  or its successor;
               (10)  the chair of the House Committee on Public
  Education or its successor;
               (11)  two additional members appointed by the
  lieutenant governor and two additional members appointed by the
  speaker of the house to ensure ethnic minority representation on
  the committee from the respective ethnic communities;
               (12)  the chair of the House Committee on Criminal
  Jurisprudence or its successor; and
               (13)  the chair of the Senate Committee on Criminal
  Justice or its successor.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), any member of the
  senate or house of representatives may submit a written request to
  the joint chairs of the committee to participate in the committee's
  proceedings to the extent practical.  When participation is not
  practical, the joint chairs of the committee must establish
  procedures for requesting members to audit proceedings and must
  provide to requesting members updates on committee proceedings.
         Sec. 329.003.  JOINT CHAIRS. The lieutenant governor and
  speaker of the house of representatives serve as joint chairs of the
  committee.
         Sec. 329.004.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The committee may act
  only when the legislature is not convened in regular or special
  session.
         (b)  The committee is authorized to:
               (1)  review any state of pandemic disaster declaration
  issued by the governor under Chapter 418A that is in effect for more
  than 30 days following the governor's renewal of the declaration
  under that chapter;
               (2)  review proclamations, orders, or rules issued or
  adopted by the governor and any orders issued by a county or
  municipality for the pandemic disaster declaration; and
               (3)  terminate in accordance with Section 418A.055:
                     (A)  the state of pandemic disaster; or
                     (B)  provisions of proclamations, orders, or
  rules issued or adopted by the governor or orders issued by a county
  or municipality for the pandemic disaster declaration.
         (c)  Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, the
  committee has all other powers and duties provided to a special
  committee by:
               (1)  Subchapter B, Chapter 301;
               (2)  the rules of the senate and house of
  representatives; and
               (3)  policies of the senate and house committees on
  administration.
         Sec. 329.005.  MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The committee shall
  meet at the call of the joint chairs.
         (b)  The joint chairs shall convene the committee on or as
  soon as practicable after the date a state of pandemic disaster is
  first renewed by the governor under Chapter 418A unless the
  legislature is convened in regular or special session.
         (c)  A majority of the members of the committee from each
  house constitutes a quorum to transact business. Termination of a
  state of pandemic disaster may only be ordered by a majority of the
  committee's membership. If a quorum is present, the committee may
  act on any other matter within its jurisdiction by a majority vote.
         (d)  Notice of a meeting of the committee must be posted at
  least five calendar days before the date of the meeting, in the same
  manner that meeting notices are posted for standing committees of
  the senate and house of representatives.
         (e)  As an exception to Chapter 551 and other law, the
  committee may meet by use of video conference call. This subsection
  applies for purposes of constituting a quorum, for purposes of
  voting, and for any other purpose allowing a member of the committee
  to fully participate in a meeting of the committee. A meeting held
  by use of video conference call:
               (1)  must be open to the public, including by video
  broadcasting the meeting in real time through the Internet website
  of the senate or house of representatives;
               (2)  must specify in the meeting notice the link to the
  video broadcast described by Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  must provide for the entire meeting two-way video
  communication between all committee members attending the meeting
  and if, at any time, the two-way video communication link with a
  member attending the meeting is disrupted, the meeting may not
  continue until that link is reestablished.
         SECTION 4.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 418A to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 418A. PANDEMIC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 418A.001.  SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as
  the Texas Pandemic Response Act.
         Sec. 418A.002.  PURPOSES. The purposes of this chapter are
  to:
               (1)  protect and preserve individual liberties
  guaranteed under the United States Constitution and the Texas
  Constitution;
               (2)  reduce the vulnerability of residents and
  communities in this state to damage, injury, and loss of life and
  property resulting from a pandemic disaster;
               (3)  prepare for prompt and efficient care and
  treatment of persons victimized or threatened by a pandemic
  disaster;
               (4)  maintain employment levels for state residents to
  the extent possible;
               (5)  provide a setting conducive to the rapid and
  orderly restoration and rehabilitation of persons and property
  affected by a pandemic disaster;
               (6)  clarify the roles of the governor, state agencies,
  the judicial branch of state government, and the political
  subdivisions of this state in the prevention of, preparation for,
  response to, and recovery from a pandemic disaster;
               (7)  authorize and provide for cooperation in pandemic
  disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery;
               (8)  authorize and coordinate activities relating to
  pandemic disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery
  by state agencies and officers and similar state-local, interstate,
  federal-state, and foreign activities in which this state and the
  political subdivisions of this state may participate;
               (9)  provide an emergency management system addressing
  all aspects of pandemic preparedness and response; and
               (10)  assist in the mitigation of pandemic disasters
  aggravated by inadequate planning for and regulation of public and
  private resources.
         Sec. 418A.003.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency
  Management.
               (2)  "Pandemic disaster" means the occurrence or
  imminent threat of an outbreak of an infectious disease that
  spreads to a significant portion of the state population and that
  threatens widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or
  property in more than one-fourth of the counties in this state
  resulting from any natural or man-made cause related to the
  outbreak.
               (3)  "Political subdivision" means a county or
  municipality.
         Sec. 418A.004.  LIMITATIONS. This chapter does not:
               (1)  grant the governor authority to enact law;
               (2)  expand the authority granted to the governor under
  Chapter 418;
               (3)  limit the authority of the governor or the
  presiding officer of the governing body of a political subdivision
  to apply for, administer, or spend a grant, gift, or payment in aid
  of pandemic disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, or
  recovery;
               (4)  interfere with the course or conduct of a labor
  dispute, except that actions otherwise authorized by this chapter
  or other laws may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate
  imminent or existing danger to public health or safety;
               (5)  interfere with dissemination of news or comment on
  public affairs, provided any communications facility or
  organization, including radio and television stations, wire
  services, Internet and cellular services, and newspapers, may be
  requested to transmit or print public service messages providing
  information or instructions in connection with a pandemic disaster
  or potential pandemic disaster;
               (6)  affect the jurisdiction or responsibilities of a
  law enforcement agency, fire department, or unit of the armed
  forces of the United States, or any of their personnel when on
  active duty, if state, local, or interjurisdictional emergency
  management plans rely on the agencies, departments, or units to
  perform duties related to pandemic disasters;
               (7)  limit, modify, or abridge the authority of the
  governor to exercise any other power vested in the governor under
  the constitution or laws of this state independent of or in
  conjunction with any provision of this chapter;
               (8)  authorize the seizure or confiscation of any
  firearm or ammunition from an individual who is lawfully carrying
  or possessing the firearm or ammunition;
               (9)  authorize any person to prohibit or restrict the
  business operations of a firearms or ammunition manufacturer,
  distributor, wholesaler, supplier, or retailer or a sport shooting
  range, as defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code;
               (10)  affect the level of scrutiny for judicial review
  of constitutional violations;
               (11)  delegate to any governmental official the
  authority to modify election procedures;
               (12)  authorize any governmental official to mandate
  that an individual obtain a vaccination;
               (13)  create any new legal duty for a negligence claim
  or a new cause of action; or
               (14)  authorize any governmental official to force a
  business to close or limit the operating capacity or use of a
  business.
         Sec. 418A.0045.  LIMITATIONS ON MEDICAL PROCEDURES. (a) In
  this section, "nonelective medical procedure" means a medical
  procedure, including a surgery, a physical exam, a diagnostic test,
  a screening, the performance of a laboratory test, and the
  collection of a specimen to perform a laboratory test, that if not
  performed within a reasonable time may, as determined in good faith
  by a patient's physician, result in:
               (1)  the patient's loss of life; or
               (2)  a deterioration, complication, or progression of
  the patient's current or potential medical condition or disorder,
  including a physical condition or mental disorder.
         (b)  The governor during a declared state of pandemic
  disaster may not issue an executive order, proclamation, or
  regulation that limits or prohibits a nonelective medical
  procedure.
         (c)  The governor during a declared state of pandemic
  disaster may issue an executive order, proclamation, or regulation
  imposing a temporary limitation or prohibition on a medical
  procedure other than a nonelective medical procedure only if the
  limitation or prohibition is reasonably necessary to conserve
  resources for nonelective medical procedures or resources needed
  for disaster response.  An executive order, proclamation, or
  regulation issued under this subsection may not continue for more
  than 15 days unless renewed by the governor.
         (d)  A person subject to an executive order, proclamation, or
  regulation issued under this section who in good faith acts or fails
  to act in accordance with that order, proclamation, or regulation
  is not civilly or criminally liable and is not subject to
  disciplinary action for that act or failure to act.
         (e)  The immunity provided by Subsection (d) is in addition
  to any other immunity or limitation of liability provided by law.
         (f)  Notwithstanding any other law, this section does not
  create a civil, criminal, or administrative cause of action or
  liability or create a standard of care, obligation, or duty that
  provides the basis for a cause of action for an act or omission
  under this section.
         Sec. 418A.005.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. (a)  The
  following provisions of Chapter 418 apply to a state of pandemic
  disaster declared under this chapter:
               (1)  Subchapter C-1;
               (2)  Subchapter D;
               (3)  Section 418.107;
               (4)  Section 418.1075;
               (5)  Section 418.108;
               (6)  Section 418.171;
               (7)  Section 418.1881;
               (8)  Section 418.1882;
               (9)  Section 418.191; and
               (10)  Section 418.193, as added by Chapter 70 (S.B.
  416), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(5), the provisions of
  Section 418.108 apply to a state of pandemic disaster declared
  under this chapter only to the extent the local declaration is
  issued for the purposes of applying for, administering, or spending
  a grant, gift, or payment in aid of pandemic disaster mitigation,
  preparedness, response, or recovery.
         Sec. 418A.006.  CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAW. To the extent of
  any conflict between this chapter and Chapter 418, this chapter
  controls.
         Sec. 418A.007.  PROHIBITIONS. (a)  The presiding officer of
  the governing body of a political subdivision may not issue an order
  during a declared state of pandemic disaster or local state of
  pandemic disaster that:
               (1)  requires businesses or industries to close;
               (2)  distinguishes between types of businesses or
  industries in limiting operation capacities; or
               (3)  restricts in-person visitation for residents of:
                     (A)  nursing facilities, assisted living
  facilities, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with
  an intellectual disability that are licensed under Subtitle B,
  Title 4, Health and Safety Code; and
                     (B)  state supported living centers, as defined by
  Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  The governor or the presiding officer of the governing
  body of a political subdivision may not issue an order during a
  declared state of pandemic disaster or local state of pandemic
  disaster that requires a public or private golf course to close. 
         (c)  The governor or the presiding officer of the governing
  body of a political subdivision may not issue an order during a
  declared state of pandemic disaster or local state of pandemic
  disaster that requires a state park to close. 
         Sec. 418A.0071.  PROHIBITION ON CLOSURE OF PUBLIC BEACHES.  
  During a declared state of pandemic disaster or local state of
  pandemic disaster, a governmental entity, including a political
  subdivision and state agency, may not issue an order, promulgate a
  rule, adopt or enforce a policy, or otherwise restrict access to or
  a means of accessing a public beach, as defined by Chapter 61,
  Natural Resources Code.
         Sec. 418A.008.  CIVIL LIABILITY DURING PANDEMIC DISASTER.
  (a) Section 418.006 applies during a declared state of pandemic
  disaster.
         (b)  A business or an entity operating during a pandemic
  disaster in this state is not liable for an injury caused by
  exposing or potentially exposing an individual to a disease if on
  the date of the exposure or potential exposure:
               (1)  the business or entity is authorized to conduct
  business in this state;
               (2)  the business or entity made a reasonable effort to
  comply with applicable and controlling state and local laws, rules,
  ordinances, declarations, and proclamations related to the
  pandemic disaster; and
               (3)  the act or omission giving rise to the exposure or
  potential exposure was not wilful, reckless, or grossly negligent.
         (c)  A person who provides goods or renders services during a
  pandemic disaster in support of disaster response efforts and at
  the request of the governor or the governor's designee is not liable
  for an injury caused by the goods or services, regardless of the
  circumstances, provided the act or omission giving rise to the
  injury was not wilful, reckless, grossly negligent, or inconsistent
  with a limit specified in the governor's request.
         (d)  The immunity provided by this section is in addition to
  the immunity and limitations of liability provided by other law.
         (e)  This section does not create a civil cause of action.
         (f)  The immunity provided by this section applies to nursing
  facilities licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, only
  with respect to an act or omission that occurred before November 1,
  2020.
  SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF GOVERNOR
         Sec. 418A.051.  EXECUTIVE ORDERS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND RULES.
  (a) Subject to Section 418A.052, the governor may issue, amend, or
  rescind an executive order, proclamation, or rule to further the
  purposes of this chapter.
         (b)  An executive order, proclamation, or rule issued by the
  governor under this chapter has the force and effect of law.
         Sec.  418A.052.  LIMITATION ON CERTAIN EXECUTIVE ORDERS,
  PROCLAMATIONS, AND RULES. (a) This section applies only to an
  executive order, proclamation, or rule issued under this chapter
  that has the effect of mandating the wearing of a face covering.
         (b)  An executive order, proclamation, or rule described by
  Subsection (a) may continue for more than 30 days only if the
  governor during that period issues:
               (1)  a proclamation convening the legislature in
  special session that begins during that period to consider whether
  to modify or terminate the executive order, proclamation, or rule;
  or
               (2)  if the legislature is convened in regular or
  special session, a message to the legislature requesting the
  legislature's consideration of whether to modify or terminate the
  executive order, proclamation, or rule.
         (c)  The governor may not issue a new executive order,
  proclamation, or rule based on the same or a substantially similar
  finding as a prior executive order, proclamation, or rule that was
  terminated by the legislature under Subsection (b).
         Sec. 418A.053.  LIMITATIONS ON AUTHORITY OF GOVERNOR. (a)
  Except as expressly provided by this chapter, the governor may
  exercise the same authority the governor is granted under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 418, to address a declared state of pandemic
  disaster.
         (b)  The following provisions of Subchapter B, Chapter 418,
  do not apply during a declared state of pandemic disaster:
               (1)  Section 418.014;
               (2)  Sections 418.016(b), (c), and (d);
               (3)  Section 418.019;
               (4)  Section 418.0195; and
               (5)  Section 418.023.
         Sec. 418A.054.  RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. Actions taken under a
  declared state of pandemic disaster must satisfy the religious
  freedom protections of Chapter 110, Civil Practice and Remedies
  Code, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C.
  Section 2000bb et seq.).
         Sec. 418A.055.  DECLARATION OF STATE OF PANDEMIC DISASTER.
  (a) The governor by executive order or proclamation may declare a
  state of pandemic disaster if the governor determines that a state
  of pandemic disaster is occurring in this state or that the
  occurrence or threat of a pandemic disaster is imminent.
         (b)  Subject to Subsections (c), (c-1), and (d), a state of
  pandemic disaster continues until the governor:
               (1)  determines that:
                     (A)  the threat of a pandemic disaster has passed;
  or
                     (B)  the pandemic disaster has been addressed to
  the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist; and
               (2)  terminates the state of pandemic disaster by
  executive order or proclamation.
         (c)  A state of pandemic disaster may not continue for more
  than 30 days unless renewed by the governor. If the legislature is
  convened in regular or special session, the legislature by law may
  at any time terminate a declared state of pandemic disaster. If the
  legislature is not convened in session, the Pandemic Disaster
  Legislative Oversight Committee established under Chapter 329 may
  at any time terminate:
               (1)  a state of pandemic disaster that is in effect for
  more than 30 days following the governor's renewal of the
  declaration; or
               (2)  provisions of proclamations, orders, or rules
  issued or adopted by the governor or of orders issued by a political
  subdivision for the pandemic disaster declaration described by
  Subdivision (1).
         (c-1)  A state of pandemic disaster renewed by the governor
  under Subsection (c) may not continue unless, on or before the 90th
  day after the date the state of pandemic disaster is initially
  declared, the governor:
               (1)  if the legislature is convened in regular or
  special session, issues a message to the legislature requesting the
  legislature's consideration and determination, not later than the
  30th day after the date the message is issued, of whether to modify
  or terminate the executive order or proclamation declaring the
  state of pandemic disaster; or
               (2)  if the legislature is not convened in regular or
  special session, issues a proclamation convening the legislature in
  a special session that begins not later than the 30th day after the
  date the proclamation is issued for the legislature to consider
  whether to modify or terminate the executive order or proclamation
  declaring the state of pandemic disaster.
         (c-2)  The governor must provide notice of a proclamation
  convening the legislature under Subsection (c-1) not later than the
  60th day after the state or pandemic disaster is initially
  declared.
         (d)  The governor may not declare a new state of pandemic
  disaster based on the same or a substantially similar finding as a
  prior state of pandemic disaster that was terminated or not renewed
  by the legislature or to circumvent a meeting of the Pandemic
  Disaster Legislative Oversight Committee convened to review a state
  of pandemic disaster declaration.
         (e)  On termination of a declared state of pandemic disaster
  or a provision of a proclamation, order, or rule by the legislature
  or the Pandemic Disaster Legislative Oversight Committee under this
  section, the governor shall issue an executive order ending the
  declared state of pandemic disaster or rescinding those provisions.
         (f)  An executive proclamation or order issued under this
  section must:
               (1)  include:
                     (A)  a description of the nature of the pandemic
  disaster;
                     (B)  a designation of the areas affected or
  threatened; and
                     (C)  a description of the conditions that caused
  the pandemic disaster or allowed the termination of the pandemic
  disaster; and
               (2)  be posted on the Internet website of the governor
  and of any state agency affected by the proclamation or order.
         (g)  The governor shall:
               (1)  promptly disseminate a proclamation or order by
  any means intended to bring its contents to the attention of the
  public; and
               (2)  unless the circumstances related to the pandemic
  disaster prevent or impede the filing, promptly file the
  proclamation or order with:
                     (A)  the division;
                     (B)  the secretary of state; and
                     (C)  the county clerk or municipal secretary in
  each area in which the proclamation or order applies.
         Sec. 418A.056.  SALE AND TRANSPORTATION OF CERTAIN
  MATERIALS. The sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms and
  ammunition may not be suspended or limited in response to a declared
  state of pandemic disaster.
  SUBCHAPTER C. LOCAL AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL PANDEMIC EMERGENCY
  MANAGEMENT
         Sec. 418A.101.  PANDEMIC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS.
  (a) The presiding officer of the governing body of a political
  subdivision is designated as the pandemic emergency management
  director for that political subdivision.
         (b)  A pandemic emergency management director serves as the
  governor's designated agent in the administration and supervision
  of duties under this chapter. A pandemic emergency management
  director shall perform the duties prescribed by the emergency
  management plan and implement the state of pandemic proclamation
  and each executive order issued under this chapter.
         (c)  A pandemic emergency management director may designate
  a person to serve as pandemic emergency management coordinator.
  The pandemic emergency management coordinator shall serve as an
  assistant to the pandemic emergency management director for
  pandemic emergency management purposes.
         (d)  A person, other than a pandemic emergency management
  director, may not seize state or federal resources without prior
  authorization from the division or the state or federal agency
  responsible for those resources.
         Sec. 418A.102.  PREEMPTION. (a)  Any local order or rule
  issued in response to a state or local state of pandemic disaster is
  superseded and void to the extent that it is inconsistent with
  proclamations, orders, or rules issued by the governor or the
  Department of State Health Services.
         (b)  Any order issued by a municipality in response to a
  state or local state of pandemic disaster is superseded and void to
  the extent that it is inconsistent with orders issued by the county
  judge of the county in which the municipality is located.
         Sec. 418A.103.  LIMITATION ON AD VALOREM TAX RATE OF CERTAIN
  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "No-new-revenue tax rate" and "voter-approval tax
  rate" have the meanings assigned by Section 26.04, Tax Code.
               (2)  "Tax year" has the meaning assigned by Section
  1.04, Tax Code.
         (b)  This section applies only to a political subdivision:
               (1)  the presiding officer of the governing body of
  which issues an order requiring the closure of a private business in
  response to a pandemic disaster; and
               (2)  for which the governor issues a written
  determination finding that the presiding officer of the governing
  body of the political subdivision has taken an action described by
  Subdivision (1). 
         (c)  Notwithstanding Chapter 26, Tax Code, or any other law,
  the governing body of a political subdivision to which this section
  applies may not adopt an ad valorem tax rate for the current tax
  year that exceeds the lesser of the political subdivision's
  no-new-revenue tax rate or voter-approval tax rate for that tax
  year.
         (d)  For purposes of making the calculation required under
  Section 26.013, Tax Code, in a tax year in which this section
  applies to a political subdivision, the difference between the
  political subdivision's actual tax rate and voter-approval tax rate
  is considered to be zero.
         (e)  A political subdivision is no longer subject to the
  limitation prescribed by this section in the first tax year
  following the governor's rescission of the written determination
  issued under Subsection (b)(2).
         (f)  The governor shall adopt rules and procedures necessary
  to determine whether the presiding officer of a political
  subdivision has taken an action described by Subsection (b)(1).
  SUBCHAPTER D. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
         Sec. 418A.151.  PERSONNEL SURGE CAPACITY PLANNING.
  Personnel surge capacity planning conducted under this chapter for
  declared states of pandemic disaster must include plans for
  providing personal protective equipment to physicians, other
  health care professionals, and pandemic disaster relief workers and
  volunteers.
         Sec. 418A.152.  EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. The division,
  in collaboration with other appropriate persons selected by the
  division, shall:
               (1)  establish a statewide emergency management system
  to respond to a declared state of pandemic disaster;
               (2)  to the extent practicable include private wireless
  communication, Internet, and cable service providers in the system;
  and
               (3)  use the satellite communications equipment and
  mobile telephone towers of the participating providers under
  Subdivision (2) to assist in responding to a declared state of
  pandemic disaster.
         SECTION 5.  Section 418.004(1), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
               (1)  "Disaster" means the occurrence or imminent threat
  of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property
  resulting from any natural or man-made cause, including fire,
  flood, earthquake, wind, storm, wave action, oil spill or other
  water contamination, volcanic activity, epidemic, air
  contamination, blight, drought, infestation, explosion, riot,
  hostile military or paramilitary action, extreme heat,
  cybersecurity event, other public calamity requiring emergency
  action, or energy emergency. The term does not include a pandemic
  disaster as defined by Section 418A.003.
         SECTION 6.  Section 418.005(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (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 and Chapter 418A 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;
               (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).
         SECTION 7.  Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The division shall prepare and keep current a
  comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may
  include:
               (1)  provisions for prevention and minimization of
  injury and damage caused by disaster;
               (2)  provisions for prompt and effective response to
  disaster;
               (3)  provisions for emergency relief;
               (4)  provisions for energy emergencies;
               (5)  identification of areas particularly vulnerable
  to disasters;
               (6)  recommendations for zoning, building
  restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for
  securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent
  structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures
  designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;
               (7)  provisions for assistance to local officials in
  designing local emergency management plans;
               (8)  authorization and procedures for the erection or
  other construction of temporary works designed to protect against
  or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other
  disaster;
               (9)  preparation and distribution to the appropriate
  state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and
  private assistance programs;
               (10)  organization of manpower and channels of
  assistance;
               (11)  coordination of federal, state, and local
  emergency management activities;
               (12)  coordination of the state emergency management
  plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;
               (13)  coordination of federal and state energy
  emergency plans;
               (14)  provisions for providing information to local
  officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established
  under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;
               (15)  a database of public facilities that may be used
  under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster,
  including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme
  heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind
  disaster;
               (16)  provisions for quickly replenishing the food
  supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;
  [and]
               (17)  provisions for protecting public health; and
               (18)  other necessary matters relating to disasters.
         SECTION 8.  (a)  Subchapter A, Chapter 241, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 241.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 241.012.  IN-PERSON HOSPITAL VISITATION DURING PERIOD
  OF DISASTER. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Hospital" means a hospital licensed under this
  chapter.
               (2)  "Qualifying official disaster order" means an
  order, proclamation, or other instrument issued by the governor,
  another official of this state, or the governing body or an official
  of a political subdivision of this state declaring a disaster that
  has infectious disease as the basis for the declared disaster.
               (3)  "Qualifying period of disaster" means the period
  of time the area in which a hospital is located is declared to be a
  disaster area by a qualifying official disaster order.
               (4)  "Religious counselor" means an individual acting
  substantially in a pastoral or religious capacity to provide
  spiritual counsel to other individuals.
         (b)  A hospital may not during a qualifying period of
  disaster prohibit in-person visitation with a patient receiving
  care or treatment at the hospital unless federal law or a federal
  agency requires the hospital to prohibit in-person visitation
  during that period.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a hospital may during a
  qualifying period of disaster:
               (1)  restrict the number of visitors a patient
  receiving care or treatment at the hospital may receive to not fewer
  than one;
               (2)  require a visitor to the hospital to:
                     (A)  complete a health screening before entering
  the hospital; and
                     (B)  wear personal protective equipment at all
  times while visiting a patient at the hospital; and
               (3)  deny entry to or remove from the hospital's
  premises a visitor who fails or refuses to:
                     (A)  submit to or meet the requirements of a
  health screening administered by the hospital; or
                     (B)  wear personal protective equipment that
  meets the hospital's infection control and safety requirements in
  the manner prescribed by the hospital.
         (d)  A health screening administered by a hospital under this
  section must be conducted in a manner that, at a minimum, complies
  with:
               (1)  hospital policy; and
               (2)  if applicable, guidance or directives issued by
  the commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or
  another agency with regulatory authority over the hospital.
         (e)  Notwithstanding any other law, neither a hospital nor a
  physician providing health care services on the hospital's premises
  is subject to civil or criminal liability or an administrative
  penalty if a visitor contracts an infectious disease while on the
  hospital's premises during a qualifying period of disaster or, in
  connection with a visit to the hospital, spreads an infectious
  disease to any other individual, except where intentional
  misconduct or gross negligence by the hospital or the physician is
  shown.  A physician who in good faith takes, or fails to take, an
  action under this section is not subject to civil or criminal
  liability or disciplinary action for the physician's action or
  failure to act under this section.
         (f)  This section may not be construed as requiring a
  hospital to:
               (1)  provide a specific type of personal protective
  equipment to a visitor to the hospital; or
               (2)  allow in-person visitation with a patient
  receiving care or treatment at the hospital if an attending
  physician determines that in-person visitation with that patient
  may lead to the transmission of an infectious agent that poses a
  serious community health risk.
         (g)  A determination made by an attending physician under
  Subsection (f)(2) is valid for not more than five days after the
  date the determination is made unless renewed by an attending
  physician.
         (h)  If a visitor to a hospital is denied in-person
  visitation with a patient receiving care or treatment at a hospital
  because of a determination made by an attending physician under
  Subsection (f)(2), the hospital shall:
               (1)  provide each day a written or oral update of the
  patient's condition to the visitor if the visitor:
                     (A)  is authorized by the patient to receive
  relevant health information regarding the patient;
                     (B)  has authority to receive the patient's health
  information under an advance directive or medical power of
  attorney; or
                     (C)  is otherwise the patient's surrogate
  decision-maker regarding the patient's health care needs under
  hospital policy and other applicable law; and
               (2)  notify the person who receives the daily update
  required under Subdivision (1) of the estimated date and time at
  which the patient will be discharged from the hospital.
         (i)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  hospital may not prohibit in-person visitation by a religious
  counselor with a patient who is receiving care or treatment at the
  hospital and who is seriously ill or dying for a reason other than
  the religious counselor's failure to comply with a requirement
  described by Subsection (c)(2).
         (j)  In the event of a conflict between this section and any
  provision of a qualifying official disaster order, this section
  prevails.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, this
  section takes effect September 1, 2021.
         SECTION 9.  Section 418A.0045, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to an order, proclamation, or regulation
  issued on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 10.  Section 418A.008, Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrued on or after
  March 13, 2020. A cause of action that accrued before March 13,
  2020, is governed by the law applicable to the cause of action
  immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 11.  Notwithstanding any other law, if this state
  receives from the federal government an amount of $1 billion or more
  related to disaster or pandemic relief response after the governor
  has signed and the comptroller of public accounts has certified
  S.B. No. 1, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021 (the General
  Appropriations Act), or similar law, the expenditure of any of that
  money appropriated for the state fiscal biennium ending August 31,
  2021, or for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021,
  is contingent on the approval of that expenditure by the House
  Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee in joint or
  separate hearings not later than 120 days after the enactment of the
  federal legislation authorizing the disbursement of the money.
  Federal money described by this section may not be spent until the
  secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house of
  representatives certify to the comptroller of public accounts that
  public hearings were held by those committees on the subject of the
  approval.
         SECTION 12.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.