By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 4393
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to disaster relief and recovery.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Texas Rescue Plan.
SECTION 2. Chapter 201, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter I to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER I. UNEMPLOYMENT DURING STATE OF DISASTER
Sec. 201.201 REQUIREMENTS DURING STATE OF DISASTER. (a)
During a disaster declared by the governor under Chapter 418,
Government Code, or by the president of the United States, or a
public health disaster declared under Chapter 81, Health and Safety
Code, the commission shall waive the following requirements:
(1) work requirements that require a recipient of
unemployment compensation benefits to search for work; and
(2) waiting week requirements.
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the funds received
by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,
Public Law 117-2, the sum of $215 million to the Texas Workforce
Commission to supplement benefits under the Federal Pandemic
Unemployment Compensation program by an additional $100 per week
for eligible beneficiaries through September 6, 2021.
SECTION 4. Chapter 302, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Section 302.00436 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.00436. SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE PROGRAM DURING A
STATE OF DISASTER. (a) During a disaster declared by the governor
under Chapter 418, Government Code, or by the president of the
United States, or a public health disaster declared under Chapter
81, Health and Safety Code, the commission shall waive:
(1) requirements that require a parent to work or
attend a job training or educational program in order to be eligible
for the subsidy; and
(2) 60 day reapplication waiting periods if the
parent's eligibility or the child's enrollment is terminated.
SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the funds received
by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021,
Public Law 117-2, the sum of $200 million to the Texas Workforce
Commission to be used to supplement child-care subsidies for
COVID-19 essential workers as defined by Executive Order GA 14,
issued March 31, 2020.
SECTION 6. Section 151.3565, Tax Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 151.3565. EMERGENCY PREPARATION SUPPLIES FOR LIMITED
PERIOD. (a) The sale of an emergency preparation item is exempted
from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the sale takes place
during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the Saturday before the
last Monday in April and ending at 12 midnight on the last Monday in
April.
(b) For purposes of this section, "emergency preparation
item" means:
(1) a portable generator used to provide light or
communications or to preserve perishable food in the event of a
power outage, the sales price of which is less than $3,000;
(2) an item listed in this subdivision, the sales
price of which is less than $300:
(A) a storm protection device manufactured,
rated, and marketed specifically to prevent damage to a glazed or
non-glazed opening during a storm; or
(B) an emergency or rescue ladder; or
(3) an item listed in this subdivision, the sales
price of which is less than $75:
(A) a reusable or artificial ice product;
(B) a portable, self-powered light source;
(C) a gasoline or diesel fuel container;
(D) a AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt,
or 9 volt battery, or a package containing more than one battery,
other than an automobile or boat battery;
(E) a nonelectric cooler or ice chest for food
storage;
(F) a tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof
sheeting;
(G) a ground anchor system or tie-down kit;
(H) a mobile telephone battery or battery
charger;
(I) a portable self-powered radio, including a
two-way radio or weatherband radio;
(J) a fire extinguisher, smoke detector, or
carbon monoxide detector;
(K) a hatchet or axe;
(L) a self-contained first aid kit[; or]
(M) a nonelectric can opener[.];
(N) disinfectant cleaning supplies; or
(O) personal protective equipment.
SECTION 7. In addition to other amounts appropriated to the
Public Utilities Commission of Texas for the state fiscal biennium
beginning September 1, 2021, there is appropriated out of the funds
received by the State of Texas from the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021, Public Law 117-2, the sum of $1 billion to the Public
Utilities Commission to establish a winter storm relief program to
provide low-income individuals with funds for to pay for home
repairs, winterization, exorbitant electricity bills, and other
costs incurred as a result of Winter Storm Uri. The commission
shall by rule establish the program, including the allocation
formula, eligibility requirements, the manner in which an
individual may apply for assistance, and procedures for awarding
assistance.
SECTION 8. Chapter 121, Health and Safety Code, is amended
by adding Section 121.0067 to read as follows:
Sec. 121.0067 GRANTS FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE MONITORING.
(a) Subject to the availability of funds, the department shall
administer a program under which funds may be granted to counties,
municipalities, public health districts, regional advisory
councils, and other political subdivisions for use by the counties,
municipalities, public health districts, regional advisory
councils, and other political subdivisions to provide or pay for
infectious disease monitoring.
(b) The executive commissioner shall adopt rules governing:
(1) the allocation formula for grants awarded under
this section;
(2) the manner in which a municipality, county, public
health district, regional advisory councils, or other political
subdivision applies for a grant;
(3) the procedures for awarding grants; and
(4) the minimum infectious disease monitoring
services to be provided under the grant and other standards
applicable to the services to be provided under the grant.
SECTION 9. Section 418.047, Texas Government Code, is
amended by adding subsection (e) to read as follows:
Sec. 418.047. COMMUNICATIONS. (a) In cooperation with
other state agencies, the division shall ascertain what means exist
for rapid and efficient communication in times of disaster.
(a-1) The division shall coordinate with the Texas
Department of Transportation to establish additional methods for
disseminating emergency public service messages to motorists,
including:
(1) severe weather advisories;
(2) AMBER alerts under Subchapter L, Chapter 411; and
(3) silver alerts under Subchapter M, Chapter 411.
(b) The division shall consider the desirability of
supplementing the communication resources or integrating them into
a state or state-federal telecommunication or other communication
system or network.
(c) In studying the character and feasibility of any system
or its parts, the division shall evaluate the possibility of its
multipurpose use for general state and local governmental purposes.
(d) The division shall make recommendations to the governor
as appropriate.
(e) If federal funds are allocated to the state for the
purpose of providing disaster relief, the division shall develop an
Internet website to house information on how the federal funds have
been allocated by the governor.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect immediately if it
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.