S.B. No. 982
AN ACT
relating to the provision of disaster and emergency services,
including health care services, to certain populations.
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).
(c) The Department of State Health Services shall
collaborate with local medical organizations that represent
licensed physicians who practice in a county or public health
region to:
(1) ensure the physicians are informed about local
government emergency response teams and those teams are aware of
physician resources in the county or region, as applicable;
(2) compile and maintain a list of physicians in the
county or region and the contact information for the physicians;
(3) provide up-to-date information about resources
for physicians regarding disaster planning, including continuing
medical education;
(4) promote the Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry and
the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health
Professionals;
(5) consider incentives to assist with recruiting
physician volunteers; and
(6) encourage physicians and health professionals to
advocate for disaster planning measures in health care facilities.
SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F-1. DISASTER ISSUES AFFECTING PERSONS WHO ARE ELDERLY
AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Sec. 418.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Disability" means, with respect to an individual,
a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits at least
one major life activity of that individual.
(2) "Task force" means the task force established
under Section 418.132.
Sec. 418.132. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The task force on
disaster issues affecting persons who are elderly and persons with
disabilities is established to study methods to more effectively:
(1) assist persons who are elderly and persons with
disabilities during a disaster or emergency evacuation; and
(2) accommodate persons who are elderly and persons
with disabilities in emergency shelters.
Sec. 418.133. COMPOSITION. (a) The task force is composed
of 11 members appointed by the governor, including:
(1) three members who are first responders;
(2) one member who represents municipalities;
(3) one member who represents counties; and
(4) six members who represent persons with
disabilities.
(b) A majority of the members appointed to the task force
must be persons with disabilities or guardians of children with
disabilities.
(c) Members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of
three or four members expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered
year.
(d) The governor shall designate one member of the task
force to serve as the presiding officer of the task force. The
presiding officer serves in that capacity at the pleasure of the
governor.
Sec. 418.134. TASK FORCE STUDY. (a) The task force shall
study methods to more effectively accommodate persons who are
elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or
emergency evacuation. The study must examine and make
recommendations on:
(1) the provision of informational materials to
persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities before a
disaster occurs on disaster or emergency evacuation;
(2) the accessibility of transportation and medical
supplies to persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities
during a disaster;
(3) different solutions for accommodating persons who
are elderly and persons with disabilities during a disaster or
emergency evacuation of a rural or urban area;
(4) the ability to effectively communicate with
persons who are elderly and persons with disabilities during a
disaster; and
(5) the availability of volunteers to assist persons
who are elderly and persons with disabilities during an emergency
evacuation.
(b) The task force shall develop and submit a written report
of the study and recommendations developed by the task force to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and each member of the legislature not later than
December 1, 2020.
(c) This section expires June 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the Senate on
April 23, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
May 24, 2019, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 25, 2019, House
granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2019, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 982 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 141,
Nays 3, two present not voting; May 25, 2019, House granted
request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
May 26, 2019, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor