By: Anchía H.B. No. 4793

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Chapter 393 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 393. SEVERE WEATHER PLAN

Sec. 393.001. PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, each of the following entities shall publish a severe weather adaptation plan that will assess the entity's role with respect to severe weather:

(1) the Texas Division of Emergency Management;

(2) the Department of Agriculture;

(3) the independent organization certified under Section 39.151, Utilities Code;

(4) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(5) the General Land Office;

(6) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(7) the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;

(8) the Texas Department of Insurance;

(9) the Parks and Wildlife Department;

(10) the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas;

(11) the Public Utility Commission of Texas;

(12 the office of the comptroller;

(13) the Texas Department of Transportation;

(14) the Texas Forest Service; and

(15) the Texas Water Development Board.

Sec. 393.002. PLAN. (a) For the purposes of this chapter, a severe weather adaptation plan is a strategy to identify, minimize, and adequately prepare for the effects of increased incidence and prevalence of severe weather on the social, economic, and ecological systems of this state and to manage the risks associated severe weather. A plan under this section must be based on current research-based science that identifies the likely impacts of extreme weather events on this state.

(b) Each severe weather adaptation plan must include:

(1) a severe weather vulnerability assessment;

(2) a review of existing programs in the context of anticipated severe weather conditions;

(3) specific steps necessary for the entity to fulfill its mission during the anticipated severe weather event;

(4) an analysis of the effects implementing the steps identified under Subdivision (3) would have on the entity's budget during the next 2, 5, and 10 years;

(5) potential sources of funding to support the entity's efforts to adapt to increased prevalence of severe weather; and

(6) a statewide strategy to monitor the continuing effects of severe weather events.

(c) In developing a severe weather adaptation plan, each entity subject to this section shall:

(1) consult with the Houston Advanced Research Center; and

(2) consult with the Office of the Texas State Climatologist in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences, College of Geosciences, Texas A&M University.

(d) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year, each entity subject to this section shall post the entity's severe weather adaptation plan on a publicly accessible Internet website and electronically submit a copy of the plan to:

(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives;

(2) the presiding officer of each standing committee or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over environmental matters; and

(3) the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(e) Each severe weather adaptation plan is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code.

SECTION 2. 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, 2023.