bill adding new items to Texas disaster plans

The text as introduced · 1,312 words

89R3434 MCK-F

By: Morales Shaw
H.B. No. 1144

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to state and local government disaster preparedness.

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

SECTION 1. Section 418.054(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The division shall develop a model guide for local

officials regarding disaster response and recovery. The guide must

provide a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery by local

officials and include information on:

(1) contracting for debris removal;

(2) obtaining federal disaster funding;

(3) coordinating the availability and construction of

short-term and long-term housing; [ and ]

(4) obtaining assistance from local, state, and

federal volunteer organizations ; and

(5) planning practices for developing and reviewing

local and interjurisdictional emergency management plans under

Section 418.106 to ensure:

(A) the needs of the community's vulnerable

populations, including persons with disabilities, persons who are

homeless, and low-income households, are accurately identified;

(B) the emergency management plans address the

needs identified under Paragraph (A); and

(C) the community resources that vulnerable

populations rely on remain available during a disaster .

SECTION 2. Section 418.106(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) The plan must provide for:

(1) wage, price, and rent controls and other economic

stabilization methods in the event of a disaster; [ and ]

(2) curfews, blockades, and limitations on utility use

in an area affected by a disaster, rules governing entrance to and

exit from the affected area, and other security measures ;

(3) integrated and inclusive operations specific to

individuals with disabilities to afford those individuals an

equitable opportunity to benefit from all disaster response and

recovery measures, programs, services, and activities;

(4) the increase in the capabilities of local

emergency shelters in the provision of shelter and care for

individuals with disabilities during a disaster;

(5) wellness checks for individuals with disabilities

in the manner provided by Subchapter I;

(6) the establishment of minimum health-related

standards for short-term and long-term shelter operations for

shelters operated with state funds or receiving state assistance;

(7) an emergency notification system that notifies

individuals with disabilities of a disaster or emergency and of any

actions the individuals should take to prepare for or respond to the

disaster or emergency;

(8) personnel surge capacity during a disaster,

including plans for providing lodging and meals for disaster relief

workers and volunteers; and

(9) horizontal integration of emergency preparedness

and response plans required for licensed facilities and providers

serving individuals with disabilities .

SECTION 3. Section 418.186(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The Department of State Health Services shall establish

a program designed to educate the citizens of this state on disaster

and emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Before

establishing the program, the department must collaborate with

local authorities to prevent state efforts that are duplicative of

local efforts. The program must address:

(1) types of disasters or other emergencies;

(2) the appropriate response to each type of disaster

or emergency, including options for evacuation and shelter;

(3) how to prepare for each type of disaster or

emergency;

(4) the impact of each type of disaster or emergency on

citizens requiring medical assistance or other care;

(5) ways to respond in a disaster or emergency or to

assist the victims of a disaster or emergency; [ and ]

(6) resources and supplies for disaster or emergency

recovery ; and

(7) the resources, services, and programs that are

available to address the needs of persons with disabilities during

a disaster or other emergency .

SECTION 4. Section 418.1882, Government Code, is amended by

amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as

follows:

(a) With the direction, oversight, and approval of the

division and the assistance of the Department of State Health

Services, health care facilities, county officials, trauma service

area regional advisory councils, and other appropriate entities,

each council of government, regional planning commission, or

similar regional planning agency created under Chapter 391, Local

Government Code, shall , as part of a crisis standards of care plan,

develop a regional plan for personnel surge capacity during

disasters, including plans for providing lodging and meals for

disaster relief workers and volunteers.

(a-1) The Department of State Health Services Preparedness

Coordinating Council shall create a framework and provide guidance

for the development of crisis standards of care plans. In

developing the crisis standards of care framework, the council

shall consult with the Department of State Health Services, health

care facilities, county officials, trauma service area regional

advisory councils, and each council of government, regional

planning commission, or similar regional planning agency created

under Chapter 391, Local Government Code.

SECTION 5. Section 418.192(c), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c) The emergency notification system for which a contract

is entered into under Subsection (b) must rely on a dynamic

information database that:

(1) is capable of simultaneous transmission of

emergency messages to all recipients through at least two

industry-standard gateways to one or more telephones or electronic

devices owned by a recipient in a manner that does not negatively

impact the existing communications infrastructure;

(2) allows the public service provider to:

(A) store prewritten emergency messages in the

dynamic information database for subsequent use; [ and ]

(B) generate emergency messages in real time

based on provider inputs; and

(C) send emergency messages in both audio and

visual formats;

(3) allows a recipient to select the language in which

the recipient would prefer to receive messages;

(4) transmits the message in the recipient's language

of choice to that recipient;

(5) converts text messages to sound files and

transmits those sound files to the appropriate device;

(6) assigns recipients to priority groups for

notification;

(7) allows for the collection and verification of

responses by recipients of emergency messages; and

(8) reads or receives alerts from a commercial mobile

alert system established by the Federal Communications Commission

or complies with standards adopted for a commercial mobile alert

system established by the Federal Communications Commission.

SECTION 6. Section 421.002(b), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(b) The governor's homeland security strategy shall

coordinate homeland security activities among and between local,

state, and federal agencies and the private sector and must include

specific plans for:

(1) intelligence gathering and analysis;

(2) information sharing;

(3) reducing the state's vulnerability to homeland

security emergencies;

(4) protecting critical infrastructure;

(5) protecting the state's international border,

ports, and airports;

(6) detecting, deterring, and defending against

terrorism, including cyber-terrorism and biological, chemical, and

nuclear terrorism;

(7) positioning equipment, technology, and personnel

to improve the state's ability to respond to a homeland security

emergency;

(8) directing the Texas Fusion Center and giving the

center certain forms of authority to implement the governor's

homeland security strategy; [ and ]

(9) using technological resources to:

(A) facilitate the interoperability of

government technological resources, including data, networks, and

applications;

(B) coordinate the warning and alert systems of

state and local agencies;

(C) incorporate multidisciplinary approaches to

homeland security; and

(D) improve the security of governmental and

private sector information technology and information resources ;

and

(10) building community resilience and reducing

long-term vulnerability for persons with disabilities by

implementing inclusive disaster and emergency planning practices

at all levels of government .

SECTION 7. Section 81.0813(d), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(d) A declaration or order issued under this section must

include:

(1) a description of the nature of the disaster or

emergency;

(2) a designation of the area threatened by the

disaster or emergency;

(3) a description of the condition that created the

disaster or emergency; [ and ]

(4) the threshold event for implementing crisis

standards of care; and

(5) if applicable:

(A) the reason for renewing the disaster or

emergency; or

(B) the reason for terminating the disaster or

emergency.

SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.