By: Gallegos S.B. No. 181
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a task force to study and develop
uniform reentry procedures for essential personnel entering an area
evacuated during a disaster or other emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 418.018, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
(d) The governor's division of emergency management, in
cooperation with the Department of Public Safety, shall create a
task force to study and develop uniform reentry procedures for
essential personnel entering a disaster area or a stricken or
threatened area that has been evacuated. The task force shall
submit a written report on the procedures developed by the task
force to the governor. The procedures must:
(1) authorize the orderly reentry of essential
personnel according to the critical functions provided by the
personnel in restoring normal operations to the area following an
evacuation;
(2) prioritize the order of reentry for the essential
personnel, including emergency responders, search and rescue
personnel, infrastructure and utility repair personnel, official
damage assessment personnel, health care providers, and businesses
essential to the return of residents; and
(3) establish methods to authenticate the identity of
the personnel authorized to reenter the area.
(e) The task force created under Subsection (d) must include
representatives of:
(1) the office of the governor;
(2) the Department of Public Safety;
(3) emergency responders;
(4) search and rescue personnel;
(5) infrastructure and utility repair personnel;
(6) official damage assessment personnel;
(7) health care providers;
(8) county judges and mayors; and
(9) businesses essential to the return of residents.
(f) Based on the report and procedures developed by the task
force created under Subsection (d) and in cooperation with the
Department of Public Safety, the governor by rule shall establish
uniform reentry procedures for essential personnel entering a
disaster area or a stricken or threatened area that has been
evacuated. The rules adopted under this section shall not diminish
the authority of local emergency management officials to adopt
appropriate reentry provisions in a local plan or to make decisions
on the timing and implementation of reentry activities.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor, in cooperation with the Department of
Public Safety of the State of Texas, shall:
(1) appoint members to the task force created under
Subsection (d), Section 418.018, Government Code, as added by this
Act; and
(2) based on the report and procedures developed by
the task force, adopt rules on uniform reentry procedures for
essential personnel as required by Subsection (f), Section 418.018,
Government Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2009.