Disaster Light System Lets Crews Patrol, But Never Requires It

The text as introduced · 754 words

90R5288 JDB-F

By: Martinez
H.B. No. 216

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishment of the disaster identification system for

a declared state of disaster.

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

SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:

(3-a) "Illuminated display" means a device capable of

displaying a flashing light and a continuous light in either the

color white or the colors blue, green, red, and yellow.

SECTION 2. Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of

disaster:

(1) activates the disaster recovery and

rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan

applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [ and ]

(2) authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to

which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies,

equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or

arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law

relating to disasters ; and

(3) activates for the area subject to the declaration

the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0151 .

SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 418.0151 to read as follows:

Sec. 418.0151. DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an

area subject to a state of disaster declaration, a person may elect

to participate in the disaster identification system activated for

the area. The system must authorize the use of an illuminated

display to communicate with disaster relief personnel.

(b) A person participating in the disaster identification

system shall:

(1) affix to each individual and domesticated animal

in the person's household an illuminated display of the following

colors:

(A) for a monochromatic illuminated display,

white for each individual and animal; or

(B) for a multicolored illuminated display:

(i) blue for each individual 18 years of age

or older;

(ii) green for each individual with a

disability;

(iii) red for each individual younger than

18 years of age; and

(iv) yellow for each animal; and

(2) signal to disaster relief personnel responding to

the area after the disaster with:

(A) a continuous light on the illuminated display

of each individual in the household who does not need medical

assistance; or

(B) a flashing light on the display of each

individual in the household who needs medical assistance.

(c) Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated

disaster area by air or ground at night to locate individuals or

animals with activated illuminated displays.

SECTION 4. Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) The division shall prepare and keep current a

comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may

include:

(1) provisions for prevention and minimization of

injury and damage caused by disaster;

(2) provisions for prompt and effective response to

disaster;

(3) provisions for emergency relief;

(4) provisions for energy emergencies;

(5) identification of areas particularly vulnerable

to disasters;

(6) recommendations for zoning, building

restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for

securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent

structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures

designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;

(7) provisions for assistance to local officials in

designing local emergency management plans;

(8) authorization and procedures for the erection or

other construction of temporary works designed to protect against

or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other

disaster;

(9) preparation and distribution to the appropriate

state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and

private assistance programs;

(10) organization of manpower and channels of

assistance;

(11) coordination of federal, state, and local

emergency management activities;

(12) coordination of the state emergency management

plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;

(13) coordination of federal and state energy

emergency plans;

(14) provisions for providing information to local

officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established

under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;

(15) a database of public facilities that may be used

under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster,

including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme

heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind

disaster;

(16) provisions for quickly replenishing the food

supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;

(17) provisions for protecting public health;

(18) provisions for the use of the disaster

identification system described by Section 418.0151; and

(19) [ (18) ] other necessary matters relating to

disasters.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.