By: Kolkhorst, Lucio S.B. No. 982
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to awareness of and access to health care service programs
available during a disaster or emergency.
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 and 418.055 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.054. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SPECIALTY CARE
POPULATIONS. The division, in consultation with the Department of
State Health Services and local governmental entities that have
established emergency management plans, shall develop a plan to
increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters in the
provision of shelter and care for specialty care populations during
a disaster.
Sec. 418.055. ACCESS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; VOLUNTEER
MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS. (a) The division, in consultation with the
Department of State Health Services, shall increase awareness of
and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize
services provided by local volunteer networks, including the
Medical Reserve Corps, that are available in the area to respond
during a disaster or emergency.
(b) The division shall develop a plan to create and manage
state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public
health region to assist counties that lack access to a volunteer
network described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is
required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, the division may, but is not required to, implement a
provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.