H.B. No. 2305
AN ACT
relating to a work group on enhancing the training and
credentialing of emergency management personnel.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Disaster" has the meaning assigned by Section
418.004, Government Code.
(2) "Emergency management director" and "emergency
management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator,
respectively, designated under Section 418.1015, Government Code.
(3) "Work group" means the work group established
under Section 2 of this Act.
SECTION 2. WORK GROUP. The Texas Division of Emergency
Management shall establish a work group of persons knowledgeable on
emergency management to study and develop a proposal for enhancing
the training and credentialing of emergency management directors,
emergency management coordinators, and other emergency management
personnel on the state or local level.
SECTION 3. STUDY AND PROPOSAL. (a) As part of the study and
proposal under Section 2 of this Act, the work group shall:
(1) assess the training and credentials necessary for
emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators,
and other emergency management personnel on the state or local
level to effectively oversee the response to and recovery from a
disaster, including reviewing current required training courses;
and
(2) consult with institutions of higher education, as
defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, on the development of
degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs
that exist in this state on the effective date of this Act.
(b) In conducting the assessment required by Subsection
(a)(1) of this section, the work group shall consider:
(1) whether the differences in geography, population,
and critical infrastructure between emergency management
directors' or emergency management coordinators' jurisdictions
warrant different levels of training and credentialing;
(2) whether the legislature should enact laws
requiring an emergency management director or emergency management
coordinator to participate in emergency management training and
credentialing before overseeing the response to and recovery from a
disaster;
(3) whether to include in any training required under
Subdivision (2) of this subsection information on disaster finance,
damage assessment, disaster contracting, debris management, and
skills needed to participate in federal emergency management
programs;
(4) whether to implement incentives for emergency
management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any
other emergency management personnel to complete additional
training and continuing education; and
(5) proposals for paying the cost for training for
emergency management directors and emergency management
coordinators that is more rigorous than the training required by
law for the directors and coordinators on the effective date of this
Act.
(c) Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall
submit the proposal required under this section to:
(1) members of the legislature; and
(2) the governor.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The work group is abolished and this
Act expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2305 was passed by the House on April
11, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2305 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor