By: Walle H.B. No. 2345
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to resources to facilitate disaster mitigation, response,
and recovery.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 16.061 to read as follows:
Sec. 16.061. FLOOD MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY. The board
shall:
(1) create an inventory of flood mitigation and
resiliency projects;
(2) develop a method of prioritizing projects
described by Subdivision (1); and
(3) coordinate with the Institute for a Disaster
Resilient Texas, created under Section 86.82, Education Code.
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 86, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 86.82 to read as follows:
Sec. 86.82. INSTITUTE FOR A DISASTER RESILIENT TEXAS. (a)
In this section, "institute" means the Institute for a Disaster
Resilient Texas.
(b) The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas is a
component of Texas A&M University.
(c) The institute is under the management and direction of
the board.
(d) The institute shall:
(1) develop data analytics tools to support disaster
planning, mitigation, response, and recovery by the state, its
political subdivisions, and the public;
(2) create and maintain web-based analytical and
visual tools to communicate disaster risks and ways to reduce those
risks, including tools that work on the level of individual parcels
of land;
(3) provide evidence-based information and solutions
to aid in the formation of state and local partnerships to support
disaster planning, mitigation, response, and recovery;
(4) collect, display, and communicate comprehensive
flood-related information for use by decision-makers and the
public;
(5) discuss, study, and test ideas for flood planning
and mitigation; and
(6) collaborate with other components of The Texas A&M
University System, institutions of higher education, as that term
is defined by Section 61.003 of this code, state agencies, local
governments, and other political subdivisions to accomplish the
purposes of this section.
(e) The institute may employ personnel, including experts
in planning, engineering, hydrology, ecology, and economics.
(f) The institute may accept a gift or grant from any public
or private source for the benefit of the institute.
SECTION 3. STUDY COMMITTEE FOR FLOOD EVENT PARTNERSHIP
(a) In this Act, "committee" means the Flood Event
Partnership Options Special Study Committee.
(b) The Flood Event Partnership Options Special Study
Committee is established and consists of nine persons appointed by
the governor to represent the flooding-related interests of the
following:
(1) state agencies;
(2) federal agencies;
(3) municipalities;
(4) conservation and reclamation districts and other
special purpose districts with authority over water resources or
waterways; and
(5) nonprofit entities.
(c) The governor shall appoint persons to serve on the
committee not later than October 1, 2019.
(d) The committee shall conduct a study of the appropriate
structure, means of administration, and membership of state-local
partnerships to address flooding events in this state.
(e) The study must address:
(1) which state and local entities are interested in
and capable of participating in effective partnerships to prevent,
mitigate, or address flooding events in this state;
(2) the role that flood planning at the watershed
level may play in a state-local partnership's efforts to prevent,
mitigate, or address flooding events in this state;
(3) the possible negative effects efforts in a local
area to prevent, mitigate, or address flooding events may have in
neighboring areas;
(4) whether state-local partnerships to prevent,
mitigate, or address flooding events in this state may function
more effectively on a required basis or voluntary basis and how the
organization and structure of the partnerships may differ according
to whether it is a required or voluntary relationship;
(5) what incentives are available or may be made
available to encourage effective state-local partnerships to
prevent, mitigate, or address flooding events in this state;
(6) what manner of funding is available or may be made
available to foster effective state-local partnerships to prevent,
mitigate, or address flooding events in this state;
(7) appropriate roles for various partners in
state-local partnerships to prevent, mitigate, or address flooding
events in this state;
(8) the most effective types of projects a state-local
partnership could propose to prevent, mitigate, or address flooding
events; and
(9) which information is best applied by state-local
partnerships to prevent, mitigate, or address flooding events and
how that information may most effectively be gathered and shared.
(f) On the request of the committee, The Texas A&M
University System shall provide the committee with assistance,
necessary support staff, and facilities to conduct meetings.
(g) The committee shall deliver to the governor, the
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
and each member of the legislature a report on the determinations of
the committee based on the study conducted under this section not
later than September 1, 2020. The committee shall deliver to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, or a member of the legislature
related information on request.
(h) The committee is abolished, and this section expires May
1, 2021.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.