86R11807 AAF-D
By: Lozano H.B. No. 4046
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to providing information and communication regarding and
during 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. COORDINATING 9-1-1 TEXT MESSAGE CAPABILITY.
The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service, shall coordinate state and local government efforts to
make 9-1-1 emergency service capable of receiving text messages
from a cellular telephone or other wireless communication device.
Sec. 418.055. DISASTER MOBILE APPLICATION. (a) The
division, in consultation with the Texas A&M Forest Service, shall
develop a mobile application for wireless communication devices to
communicate critical information during a disaster directly to
disaster victims and first responders.
(b) The mobile application may provide information on:
(1) road and weather conditions during a disaster; and
(2) disaster response and recovery activities.
Sec. 418.056. STUDY ON IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS DURING
DISASTERS. (a) The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M
Engineering Extension Service, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service, and other appropriate entities, shall conduct a study on
improving communication during a disaster. The study must:
(1) consider ways to improve and standardize the use
of social media as a communication tool during and after a disaster;
(2) examine the costs and benefits of promoting the
use of a standard communication format to create a single
comprehensive common operating framework;
(3) identify any costs that first responders may incur
in acquiring equipment complying with a standard communication
format;
(4) examine how private utility providers and the use
of the providers' portable satellite communications equipment and
portable mobile telephone towers may assist in response and
recovery after disasters; and
(5) examine how the state may use data analytics for
more effective and timely analysis of information to improve
disaster management.
(b) Not later than August 31, 2020, the division shall
submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, and members of the
legislature a report on the findings of the study.
(c) This section expires December 1, 2020.
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.193 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.193. DISASTER WEB PORTAL. The Texas A&M
University System, in coordination with the governor and the
division, shall develop a comprehensive disaster web portal. The
web portal must:
(1) provide disaster information to the public,
including information on programs and services available to
disaster victims and funding for and expenditures of disaster
assistance programs;
(2) include information on disaster response and
recovery activities; and
(3) provide information on obtaining assistance from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, state agencies, organized
volunteer groups, and any other entities providing disaster
assistance.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.