H.B. No. 2340
AN ACT
relating to emergency and disaster management, response, and
recovery.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 418.002, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 418.002. PURPOSES. The purposes of this chapter are
to:
(1) reduce vulnerability of people and communities of
this state to damage, injury, and loss of life and property
resulting from natural or man-made catastrophes, riots, or hostile
military or paramilitary action;
(2) prepare for prompt and efficient rescue, care, and
treatment of persons victimized or threatened by disaster;
(3) provide a setting conducive to the rapid and
orderly restoration and rehabilitation of persons and property
affected by disasters;
(4) clarify and strengthen the roles of the governor,
state agencies, the judicial branch of state government, and local
governments in prevention of, preparation for, response to, and
recovery from disasters;
(5) authorize and provide for cooperation in disaster
mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery;
(6) authorize and provide for coordination of
activities relating to disaster mitigation, preparedness,
response, and recovery by agencies and officers of this state, and
similar state-local, interstate, federal-state, and foreign
activities in which the state and its political subdivisions may
participate;
(7) provide an emergency management system embodying
all aspects of predisaster preparedness and postdisaster response;
(8) assist in mitigation of disasters caused or
aggravated by inadequate planning for and regulation of public and
private facilities and land use; [and]
(9) encourage state agencies, local governments,
nongovernmental organizations, private entities, and individuals
to adopt the goals of the strategic plan of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency for preparing for, responding to, and recovering
from a disaster that emphasize cooperation among federal agencies,
state agencies, local governments, nongovernmental organizations,
private entities, and individuals in each activity or project
undertaken to ensure that this state is prepared to effectively
respond to and recover from a disaster; and
(10) provide the authority and mechanism to respond to
an energy emergency.
SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 418.054 and 418.055 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.054. UNMANNED AIRCRAFT STUDY GROUP. (a) In this
section, "study group" means the unmanned aircraft study group
established under this section.
(b) The unmanned aircraft study group is established and
consists of the following members appointed by the chief of the
division:
(1) representatives of the division;
(2) representatives from institutions of higher
education; and
(3) other appropriate interested persons.
(c) The study group shall study issues related to the
appropriate use of unmanned aircraft in responding to and
recovering from a disaster, including:
(1) strategies for coordinating and promoting the use
of unmanned aircraft among state agencies, local governments, and
private entities in the response and recovery; and
(2) recommended changes to state law that would allow
state agencies, local governments, and private entities to more
effectively use unmanned aircraft in the response and recovery.
(d) Not later than November 1, 2020, the study group shall
submit a report containing recommendations on the issues described
by Subsection (c) to each member of the legislature.
(e) The study group is abolished and this section expires
January 1, 2021.
Sec. 418.055. INFORMATION SHARING WORK GROUP. (a) In this
section, "work group" means the work group established under this
section.
(b) The division shall establish a work group of state
agencies involved in disaster management. The work group consists
of members appointed by the chief of the division who represent:
(1) the comptroller's office;
(2) the Department of State Health Services;
(3) the Texas Department of Transportation;
(4) the General Land Office;
(5) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(6) institutions of higher education; and
(7) to the extent practicable, appropriate federal
agencies.
(c) The work group shall develop recommendations for
improving the manner in which electronic information is stored by
and shared among state agencies and between state agencies and
federal agencies to improve the capacity of the agencies to:
(1) respond to a disaster; and
(2) coordinate the agencies' responses to a disaster.
(d) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the work group shall submit the group's recommendations to the
governor.
SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.056 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.056. PERMITTING TASK FORCE. (a) The division
shall form a task force with representatives from the General Land
Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Parks and
Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service, Department of State Health Services,
Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Texas Historical Commission
to be activated if a state of disaster is declared under Section
418.014 because of weather conditions to expedite:
(1) environmental permitting; and
(2) access to funds from federal disaster relief
programs following the disaster.
(b) The task force formed under this section shall develop
recommendations for expediting the evaluation of environmental
permits during disaster recovery in order for local entities to
demonstrate compliance with regulations and access federal
disaster relief programs and funding.
(c) In performing its duties under this section, the task
force may use resources of agencies participating in the task
force.
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 751, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 751.017 to read as follows:
Sec. 751.017. FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DISASTER ASSISTANCE. (a) The office, in
consultation with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and,
as practicable, federal agencies and members of Congress, shall:
(1) study federal laws and policies related to issues
affecting the ability of federal agencies, state agencies, and
local governments to cooperate in responding to a disaster,
including issues related to procurement, housing assistance,
information sharing, personnel, and federal disaster assistance
programs; and
(2) make recommendations to improve federal laws and
policies related to the issues described by Subdivision (1).
(b) Not later than November 1, 2020, the office shall
deliver to the board a report of the recommendations described by
Subsection (a)(2).
(c) This section expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2340 was passed by the House on April
11, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2340 was passed by the Senate on May
16, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor