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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot program for the establishment of disaster |
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relief hub houses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Community organization" includes a church or |
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nonprofit organization. |
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(2) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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418.004, Government Code. |
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(3) "Disaster relief hub house" means a building |
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maintained and operated by a community organization or political |
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subdivision that is capable of providing shelter, electrical power, |
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food, and other necessities. |
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(4) "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management. |
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(5) "Pilot program" means the pilot program |
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established under this section. |
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(6) "Political subdivision" means a county or |
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municipality. |
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(b) The division by rule shall establish and implement a |
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pilot program to award grants to eligible community organizations |
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and political subdivisions for the purpose of establishing and |
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operating disaster relief hub houses in Harris County. A community |
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organization or political subdivision that receives a grant to |
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establish a disaster relief hub house under this section shall |
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utilize the hub house to: |
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(1) prepare surrounding communities for future |
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emergencies and disasters; and |
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(2) during an emergency or disaster, or before an |
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imminent emergency or disaster: |
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(A) provide individuals in surrounding |
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communities shelter and access to electrical power; and |
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(B) distribute to individuals in surrounding |
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communities emergency preparedness items, including batteries, |
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water, ice chests for food storage, and nonperishable food items. |
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(c) A community organization or political subdivision is |
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eligible to apply for a grant under this section if the organization |
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or political subdivision: |
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(1) is located within the boundaries of Harris County; |
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(2) maintains a building located within the boundaries |
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of Harris County that is capable of providing shelter and access to |
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electrical power to at least 15 individuals at the same time; and |
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(3) submits a disaster resiliency plan to the division |
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with the organization's or political subdivision's application. |
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(d) The division may accept gifts, grants, and donations to |
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establish and implement the pilot program. |
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(e) Not later than August 31 of each year, with the initial |
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report due August 31, 2026, the division shall prepare and submit to |
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the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and appropriate standing committees of the |
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legislature a written report on the effectiveness of the pilot |
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program. The report must include recommendations regarding: |
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(1) whether the pilot program should be continued, |
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expanded, or terminated; and |
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(2) whether the pilot program would be appropriate for |
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statewide implementation. |
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(f) This section expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |