By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 4393

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to disaster relief and recovery.

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Rescue Plan.

SECTION 2. Chapter 201, Labor Code, is amended by adding Subchapter I to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I. UNEMPLOYMENT DURING STATE OF DISASTER

Sec. 201.201 REQUIREMENTS DURING STATE OF DISASTER. (a) During a disaster declared by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, or by the president of the United States, or a public health disaster declared under Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, the commission shall waive the following requirements:

(1) work requirements that require a recipient of unemployment compensation benefits to search for work; and

(2) waiting week requirements.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the funds received by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, the sum of $215 million to the Texas Workforce Commission to supplement benefits under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program by an additional $100 per week for eligible beneficiaries through September 6, 2021.

SECTION 4. Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding Section 302.00436 to read as follows:

Sec. 302.00436. SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE PROGRAM DURING A STATE OF DISASTER. (a) During a disaster declared by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, or by the president of the United States, or a public health disaster declared under Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code, the commission shall waive:

(1) requirements that require a parent to work or attend a job training or educational program in order to be eligible for the subsidy; and

(2) 60 day reapplication waiting periods if the parent's eligibility or the child's enrollment is terminated.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the funds received by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, the sum of $200 million to the Texas Workforce Commission to be used to supplement child-care subsidies for COVID-19 essential workers as defined by Executive Order GA 14, issued March 31, 2020.

SECTION 6. Section 151.3565, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 151.3565. EMERGENCY PREPARATION SUPPLIES FOR LIMITED PERIOD. (a) The sale of an emergency preparation item is exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the sale takes place during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Saturday before the last Monday in April and ending at 12 midnight on the last Monday in April.

(b) For purposes of this section, "emergency preparation item" means:

(1) a portable generator used to provide light or communications or to preserve perishable food in the event of a power outage, the sales price of which is less than $3,000;

(2) an item listed in this subdivision, the sales price of which is less than $300:

(A) a storm protection device manufactured, rated, and marketed specifically to prevent damage to a glazed or non-glazed opening during a storm; or

(B) an emergency or rescue ladder; or

(3) an item listed in this subdivision, the sales price of which is less than $75:

(A) a reusable or artificial ice product;

(B) a portable, self-powered light source;

(C) a gasoline or diesel fuel container;

(D) a AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt, or 9 volt battery, or a package containing more than one battery, other than an automobile or boat battery;

(E) a nonelectric cooler or ice chest for food storage;

(F) a tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting;

(G) a ground anchor system or tie-down kit;

(H) a mobile telephone battery or battery charger;

(I) a portable self-powered radio, including a two-way radio or weatherband radio;

(J) a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, or carbon monoxide detector;

(K) a hatchet or axe;

(L) a self-contained first aid kit[; or]

(M) a nonelectric can opener[.];

(N) disinfectant cleaning supplies; or

(O) personal protective equipment.

SECTION 7. In addition to other amounts appropriated to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, there is appropriated out of the funds received by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, the sum of $1 billion to the Public Utilities Commission to establish a winter storm relief program to provide low-income individuals with funds for to pay for home repairs, winterization, exorbitant electricity bills, and other costs incurred as a result of Winter Storm Uri. The commission shall by rule establish the program, including the allocation formula, eligibility requirements, the manner in which an individual may apply for assistance, and procedures for awarding assistance.

SECTION 8. Chapter 121, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 121.0067 to read as follows:

Sec. 121.0067 GRANTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE MONITORING. (a) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall administer a program under which funds may be granted to counties, municipalities, public health districts, regional advisory councils, and other political subdivisions for use by the counties, municipalities, public health districts, regional advisory councils, and other political subdivisions to provide or pay for infectious disease monitoring.

(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing:

(1) the allocation formula for grants awarded under this section;

(2) the manner in which a municipality, county, public health district, regional advisory councils, or other political subdivision applies for a grant;

(3) the procedures for awarding grants; and

(4) the minimum infectious disease monitoring services to be provided under the grant and other standards applicable to the services to be provided under the grant.

SECTION 9. Section 418.047, Texas Government Code, is amended by adding subsection (e) to read as follows:

Sec. 418.047. COMMUNICATIONS. (a) In cooperation with other state agencies, the division shall ascertain what means exist for rapid and efficient communication in times of disaster.

(a-1) The division shall coordinate with the Texas Department of Transportation to establish additional methods for disseminating emergency public service messages to motorists, including:

(1) severe weather advisories;

(2) AMBER alerts under Subchapter L, Chapter 411; and

(3) silver alerts under Subchapter M, Chapter 411.

(b) The division shall consider the desirability of supplementing the communication resources or integrating them into a state or state-federal telecommunication or other communication system or network.

(c) In studying the character and feasibility of any system or its parts, the division shall evaluate the possibility of its multipurpose use for general state and local governmental purposes.

(d) The division shall make recommendations to the governor as appropriate.

(e) If federal funds are allocated to the state for the purpose of providing disaster relief, the division shall develop an Internet website to house information on how the federal funds have been allocated by the governor.

SECTION 10. 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.