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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study conducted by the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management regarding the process for obtaining disaster-related |
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financial assistance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "division" means the |
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Texas Division of Emergency Management. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The division, with the assistance of |
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the Emergency Management Council, shall conduct a study on the |
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process for applying for, approving, and awarding financial |
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assistance during the disaster recovery process. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the division shall: |
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(1) compile data regarding the amount of time and |
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effort required for local governments, individuals, and businesses |
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to apply for and ultimately receive disaster-related financial |
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assistance; |
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(2) identify current laws and rules governing the |
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provision of disaster-related financial assistance; and |
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(3) identify opportunities to streamline, simplify, |
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and expedite the process for local governments, individuals, and |
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businesses to apply for and receive disaster-related financial |
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assistance. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2026, the |
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division shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the |
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legislature a written report that includes: |
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(1) a summary of the information compiled in the |
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study, including an analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of |
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the disaster-related financial assistance system; and |
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(2) recommendations from the division and the |
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Emergency Management Council, including: |
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(A) recommendations regarding the manner by |
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which disaster-related financial assistance can be provided more |
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efficiently, simply, and quickly; and |
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(B) recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires September 1, |
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2027. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |