By: Martinez (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 671
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 12, 2021;
  May 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
  Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 20, 2021, reported favorably by
  the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 20, 2021, sent to
  printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to establishment of the disaster identification system for
  a declared state of disaster.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
               (3-a)  "Illuminated display" means a device that is
  capable of displaying a flashing light and a continuous light in
  either the color white or the colors blue, green, red, and yellow.
         SECTION 2.  Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of
  disaster:
               (1)  activates the disaster recovery and
  rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan
  applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [and]
               (2)  authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to
  which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies,
  equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or
  arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law
  relating to disasters; and
               (3)  activates for the area subject to the declaration
  the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0151.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 418.0151 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.0151.  DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an
  area subject to a state of disaster declaration, a person may elect
  to participate in the disaster identification system activated for
  the area. The system must authorize the use of an illuminated
  display to communicate with disaster relief personnel.
         (b)  A person participating in the disaster identification
  system shall:
               (1)  affix to each individual and domesticated animal
  in the person's household an illuminated display of the following
  colors:
                     (A)  if the person has a monochromatic illuminated
  display, the color white for each individual and animal; or
                     (B)  if the person has a multicolored illuminated
  display:
                           (i)  blue for each individual 18 years of age
  or older;
                           (ii)  green for each individual with a
  disability;
                           (iii)  red for each individual younger than
  18 years of age; and
                           (iv)  yellow for each animal; and
               (2)  using the illuminated display, signal to disaster
  relief personnel responding to the area after the disaster with:
                     (A)  a continuous light on the display of each
  household member who does not need medical assistance; or
                     (B)  a flashing light on the display of each
  household member who needs medical assistance.
         (c)  Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated
  disaster area by air or ground at night to locate individuals or
  animals with activated illuminated displays.
         SECTION 4.  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;
               (17)  provisions for the use of the disaster
  identification system described by Section 418.0151; and
               (18) [(17)]  other necessary matters relating to
  disasters.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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