By: Alvarado, et al. S.B. No. 799
(Murphy)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a business advisory council to provide
advice on economic recovery 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 Section 418.054 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.054. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) In this
section, "advisory council" means the business advisory council
established under this section.
(b) The business advisory council is established to provide
advice and expertise on actions state and local governments can
take to assist businesses in recovering from a disaster.
(c) The advisory council is composed of 12 members who
represent business in this state appointed as follows:
(1) four members appointed by the governor;
(2) four members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
and
(3) four members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives.
(d) Members of the advisory council serve staggered
four-year terms.
(e) An advisory council member is not entitled to
compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses
incurred by the member while conducting the business of the
advisory council.
(f) The advisory council members shall elect a presiding
officer from among the members.
(g) The advisory council shall:
(1) advise the division on policies, rules, and
program operations to assist businesses in recovering from a
disaster;
(2) advise the division on the state resources and
services needed to assist businesses in recovering from a
catastrophic loss of electric power; and
(3) propose solutions to address inefficiencies or
problems in the state or local governmental disaster response with
respect to impact on businesses and the economy.
(h) The advisory council shall meet at the times and
locations determined by the presiding officer, not to exceed four
meetings each year.
(i) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year,
the advisory council shall submit a report on the advisory
council's activities, advice, and proposed solutions to the
division, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
the house of representatives.
(j) The division shall provide administrative support to
the advisory council.
(k) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the advisory council.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
house of representatives shall appoint members to the business
advisory council, as required by Section 418.054, Government Code,
as added by this Act, as follows:
(1) the governor shall appoint two members to terms
expiring February 1, 2021, one member to a term expiring February 1,
2022, and one member to a term expiring February 1, 2023;
(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one member
to a term expiring February 1, 2021, two members to terms expiring
February 1, 2022, and one member to a term expiring February 1,
2023; and
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint one member to a term expiring February 1, 2021, one member
to a term expiring February 1, 2022, and two members to terms
expiring February 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.