Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB982 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 982
	1	+	By: Kolkhorst, et al. S.B. No. 982
	2	+	(Zerwas)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5		-	relating to ~~the provision~~ of ~~disaster~~ and ~~emergency services,~~
6		-	~~including health care services,~~ ~~to certain populations~~.
	7	+	relating to awareness of and access to health care service programs
	8	+	available during a disaster or emergency.
7	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	10		SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
9	11		amended by adding Sections 418.054 and 418.055 to read as follows:
10	12		Sec. 418.054. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SPECIALTY CARE
11	13		POPULATIONS. The division, in consultation with the Department of
12	14		State Health Services and local governmental entities that have
13	15		established emergency management plans, shall develop a plan to
14	16		increase the capabilities of local emergency shelters in the
15	17		provision of shelter and care for specialty care populations during
16	18		a disaster.
17	19		Sec. 418.055. ACCESS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; VOLUNTEER
18	20		MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS. (a) The division, in consultation with the
19	21		Department of State Health Services, shall increase awareness of
20	22		and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize
21	23		services provided by local volunteer networks, including the
22	24		Medical Reserve Corps, that are available in the area to respond
23	25		during a disaster or emergency.
24	26		(b) The division shall develop a plan to create and manage
25	27		state-controlled volunteer mobile medical units in each public
26	28		health region to assist counties that lack access to a volunteer
27	29		network described by Subsection (a).
28		-	(c) The Department of State Health Services shall
29		-	collaborate with local medical organizations that represent
30		-	licensed physicians who practice in a county or public health
31		-	region to:
32		-	(1) ensure the physicians are informed about local
33		-	government emergency response teams and those teams are aware of
34		-	physician resources in the county or region, as applicable;
35		-	(2) compile and maintain a list of physicians in the
36		-	county or region and the contact information for the physicians;
37		-	(3) provide up-to-date information about resources
38		-	for physicians regarding disaster planning, including continuing
39		-	medical education;
40		-	(4) promote the Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry and
41		-	the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health
42		-	Professionals;
43		-	(5) consider incentives to assist with recruiting
44		-	physician volunteers; and
45		-	(6) encourage physicians and health professionals to
46		-	advocate for disaster planning measures in health care facilities.
47		-	SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
48		-	adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:
49		-	SUBCHAPTER F-1. DISASTER ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WHO ARE ELDERLY
50		-	AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
51		-	Sec. 418.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
52		-	(1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual,
53		-	a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least
54		-	one major life activity of that individual.
55		-	(2) "Task force" means the task force established
56		-	under Section 418.132.
57		-	Sec. 418.132. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The task force on
58		-	disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with
59		-	disabilities is established to study methods to more effectively:
60		-	(1) assist persons who are elderly and persons with
61		-	disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation; and
62		-	(2) accommodate persons who are elderly and persons
63		-	with disabilities in emergency shelters.
64		-	Sec. 418.133. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed
65		-	of 11 members appointed by the governor, including:
66		-	(1) three members who are first responders;
67		-	(2) one member who represents municipalities;
68		-	(3) one member who represents counties; and
69		-	(4) six members who represent persons with
70		-	disabilities.
71		-	(b) A majority of the members appointed to the task force
72		-	must be persons with disabilities or guardians of children with
73		-	disabilities.
74		-	(c) Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of
75		-	three or four members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered
76		-	year.
77		-	(d) The governor shall designate one member of the task
78		-	force to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. The
79		-	presiding officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the
80		-	governor.
81		-	Sec. 418.134. TASK FORCE STUDY. (a) The task force shall
82		-	study methods to more effectively accommodate persons who are
83		-	elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or
84		-	emergency evacuation. The study must examine and make
85		-	recommendations on:
86		-	(1) the provision of informational materials to
87		-	persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities before a
88		-	disaster occurs on disaster or emergency evacuation;
89		-	(2) the accessibility of transportation and medical
90		-	supplies to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities
91		-	during a disaster;
92		-	(3) different solutions for accommodating persons who
93		-	are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or
94		-	emergency evacuation of a rural or urban area;
95		-	(4) the ability to effectively communicate with
96		-	persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a
97		-	disaster; and
98		-	(5) the availability of volunteers to assist persons
99		-	who are elderly and persons with disabilities during an emergency
100		-	evacuation.
101		-	(b) The task force shall develop and submit a written report
102		-	of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the
103		-	governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
104		-	representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than
105		-	December 1, 2020.
106		-	(c) This section expires June 1, 2021.
107		-	SECTION 3. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is
	30	+	SECTION 2. The Texas Division of Emergency Management is
108	31		required to implement a provision of this Act only if the
109	32		legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If
110	33		the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
111	34		purpose, the division may, but is not required to, implement a
112	35		provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
113	36		purpose.
114		-	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
115		-	______________________________ ______________________________
116		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
117		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the Senate on
118		-	April 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
119		-	May 24, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
120		-	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 25, 2019, House
121		-	granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted
122		-	Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
123		-	Nays 0.
124		-	______________________________
125		-	Secretary of the Senate
126		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the House, with
127		-	amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141,
128		-	Nays 3, two present not voting; May 25, 2019, House granted
129		-	request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
130		-	May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
131		-	following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.
132		-	______________________________
133		-	Chief Clerk of the House
134		-	Approved:
135		-	______________________________
136		-	Date
137		-	______________________________
138		-	Governor
	37	+	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.