H.B. No. 2320
AN ACT
relating to services provided during and following a disaster.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 418.054, 418.055, and 418.056 to read as
follows:
Sec. 418.054. COMMUNICATIONS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A
DISASTER. The division, in collaboration with other appropriate
entities selected by the division, shall to the extent practicable
include private wireless communication, Internet, and cable
service providers in the disaster planning process and determine
the availability of the providers' portable satellite
communications equipment and portable mobile telephone towers to
assist in response and recovery immediately following disasters.
Sec. 418.055. HARDENING OF UTILITY FACILITIES AND CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) In this section, "critical infrastructure"
includes hospitals and fire stations.
(b) The division shall identify methods for hardening
utility facilities and critical infrastructure in order to maintain
operations of essential services during disasters.
(c) The division shall, in collaboration with the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality, the Railroad Commission of
Texas, and any other state agencies selected by the division:
(1) determine methods for effectively reducing risks
and impacts on utility facilities and critical infrastructure from
a disaster; and
(2) encourage public and private entities that are
responsible for utility facilities and critical infrastructure to
implement the methods determined under Subdivision (1).
(d) This section does not apply to a utility facility owned
or controlled by a utility regulated by the Public Utility
Commission of Texas.
Sec. 418.056. REPORT ON BUILDING TRADE SERVICES FOLLOWING
DISASTERS. (a) Not later than November 1, 2020, the division shall
submit a report to members of the legislature on improving the
oversight, accountability, and availability of building trade
services following disasters. The report must include:
(1) strategies to increase the availability of
tradespeople, including plumbers and electricians, following a
disaster;
(2) approaches to increase prosecutions of alleged
fraud related to building trade services offered following a
disaster; and
(3) methods to encourage performance bond
requirements in contracts for building trade services to be
performed following a disaster.
(b) The division shall consult with the Texas Department of
Licensing and Regulation and any other state agencies selected by
the division, local governments, trade associations, and law
enforcement groups in preparing the report described by Subsection
(a).
(c) This section expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Utilities Code, is
amended by adding Section 17.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 17.010. DISASTER BILLING AWARENESS. The commission in
cooperation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall:
(1) promote public awareness of bill payment
assistance available during a disaster for electric, water, and
wastewater services, including assistance for consumers on level
billing plans; and
(2) provide the public with information about billing
practices during a disaster to ensure that consumers of electric,
water, and wastewater services have an adequate understanding of
their rights.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas
Division of Emergency Management and the Public Utility Commission
of Texas shall begin the public awareness campaign required by
Section 17.010, Utilities Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2320 was passed by the House on April
11, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2320 was passed by the Senate on May
15, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor