BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1393 By: Estes Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security 3/21/2013 As Filed
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1393
By: Estes
Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
3/21/2013
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1393
By: Estes
Agriculture, Rural Affairs & Homeland Security
3/21/2013
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The United States Department of Homeland Security establishes the framework for the development of state and local homeland security plans, and each state is responsible for creating a plan to address that state's unique homeland security environment. This bill creates a more generic reference to federal guidance to avoid the perception that the state is basing its plans on outdated documents, as the name of the prevailing document has changed several times. The current guiding document, the National Preparedness Goal, contains five mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The five key mission areas are generally accepted across the nation for purposes of homeland security and emergency management, and will likely continue to be incorporated into future federal guidance documents. S.B. 1393 streamlines the state's application process for United States Department of Homeland Security grants by aligning the state's strategic planning efforts with current federal guidance, ensuring that each priority action item falls under one of the five mission areas. As proposed, S.B. 1393 amends current law relating to the statewide homeland security strategy developed by the governor. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 421.002(a) and (c), Government Code, as follows: (a) Requires the governor to direct homeland security in this state and to develop a statewide homeland security strategy that improves the state's ability to: (1) prevent significant criminal and terrorist attacks, rather than detect and deter threats to homeland security; (2) protect against homeland security threats and hazards; (3) mitigate the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters; (4) respond to homeland security emergencies; and (5) recover from homeland security emergencies. Makes nonsubstantive changes. (c) Requires that the governor's homeland security strategy complement and operate in coordination with federal strategic guidance on homeland security, rather than in coordination with the federal homeland security strategy. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The United States Department of Homeland Security establishes the framework for the development of state and local homeland security plans, and each state is responsible for creating a plan to address that state's unique homeland security environment. This bill creates a more generic reference to federal guidance to avoid the perception that the state is basing its plans on outdated documents, as the name of the prevailing document has changed several times.
The current guiding document, the National Preparedness Goal, contains five mission areas: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. The five key mission areas are generally accepted across the nation for purposes of homeland security and emergency management, and will likely continue to be incorporated into future federal guidance documents.
S.B. 1393 streamlines the state's application process for United States Department of Homeland Security grants by aligning the state's strategic planning efforts with current federal guidance, ensuring that each priority action item falls under one of the five mission areas.
As proposed, S.B. 1393 amends current law relating to the statewide homeland security strategy developed by the governor.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Sections 421.002(a) and (c), Government Code, as follows:
(a) Requires the governor to direct homeland security in this state and to develop a statewide homeland security strategy that improves the state's ability to:
(1) prevent significant criminal and terrorist attacks, rather than detect and deter threats to homeland security;
(2) protect against homeland security threats and hazards;
(3) mitigate the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of future disasters;
(4) respond to homeland security emergencies; and
(5) recover from homeland security emergencies.
Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(c) Requires that the governor's homeland security strategy complement and operate in coordination with federal strategic guidance on homeland security, rather than in coordination with the federal homeland security strategy.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.