89R17189 JCG-D
By: Schwertner S.B. No. 2512
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating the Texas Interoperability Council and a grant
program administered by the council.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 421, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL; GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 421.121. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Council" means the Texas Interoperability
Council established under this subchapter.
(2) "Division" means Texas Division of Emergency
Management.
(3) "Local government" means a municipality, county,
special district or authority, or any other political subdivision
of this state.
Sec. 421.122. TEXAS INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL. (a) The
Texas Interoperability Council is established to:
(1) develop and coordinate the implementation of a
statewide strategic plan for governing the interoperability of
emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this
state; and
(2) administer a grant program to assist local
governments with acquiring emergency communication equipment that
is interoperable with other emergency communication equipment and
infrastructure in this state and with constructing additional
emergency communication infrastructure to ensure that the first
responders of this state have access to equipment and
infrastructure that is interoperable to the extent necessary to
effectively communicate during an emergency.
(b) The council is composed of the chief of the division and
six members appointed as follows:
(1) two members appointed by the governor;
(2) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
and
(3) two members appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives.
(c) Appointed council members serve staggered terms of six
years, with the terms of two members expiring September 1 of each
odd-numbered year.
(d) A majority of the voting members of the council
constitutes a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is present,
the council may act on any matter within the council's jurisdiction
by a majority vote.
(e) The chief of the division serves as the council's
presiding officer.
Sec. 421.123. MEETINGS. The council shall meet as often as
necessary at the call of the presiding officer to perform the
council's duties.
Sec. 421.124. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW TO COUNCIL. (a)
Chapters 551 and 2001 do not apply to the council.
(b) Information held by the council is excepted from
required public disclosure under Chapter 552.
Sec. 421.125. STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The council, in
collaboration with any state agency or private entity as the
council determines appropriate, shall develop a statewide
strategic plan to govern the interoperability of emergency
communication equipment and infrastructure in this state.
(b) The strategic plan must include:
(1) a plan for the construction of communication
infrastructure necessary to ensure effective emergency
communications among first responders in this state, including the
acquisition of land as necessary for construction;
(2) training programs necessary to ensure that state
and local governments have the skills and resources necessary to
access and effectively use the emergency communication equipment
and infrastructure available in this state;
(3) a plan to ensure that first responders throughout
this state are equipped with emergency communication equipment that
is interoperable with other emergency communication equipment in
this state; and
(4) a plan to ensure that any new emergency
communication equipment and infrastructure acquired or constructed
under the plan can be adapted to or integrated with any existing
emergency communication equipment and infrastructure.
Sec. 421.126. IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN; NETWORK MANAGEMENT.
The council, in collaboration with state agencies as needed, shall
implement the statewide strategic plan developed under Section
421.125 and coordinate the emergency communications network of this
state to ensure interoperability for first responders.
Sec. 421.127. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The council shall
establish a grant program to provide grants to local governments
for the purchase of emergency communication equipment and
infrastructure, the construction of emergency communication
infrastructure, and the expenses of training employees of the local
government for the effective use of the equipment during an
emergency.
(b) To be eligible for a grant under the grant program, an
applicant must be a local government, submit a proposal to the
council, and comply with the rules established by the council for
the administration of the grant program.
(c) The council shall establish procedures to administer
the grant program, including:
(1) eligibility criteria for a grant recipient;
(2) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and
(3) procedures for submitting and evaluating
proposals.
(d) The council shall enter into a contract that includes
performance requirements with each grant recipient. The council
shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract.
(e) The council may require as a condition of a grant
awarded under this section that:
(1) the officers or employees of the recipient
successfully complete one or more training programs, as determined
by the council, which may include incident command system training;
and
(2) the recipient adopt standardized procedures for
incident command or management.
(f) The council may delegate to a state agency the
administration of the grant program.
Sec. 421.128. USES OF GRANT MONEY. Money awarded under the
grant program may be used only to:
(1) purchase emergency communication equipment,
including radios, spare parts, and accessories, for use by first
responders that is interoperable with the other emergency
communication equipment and infrastructure in this state or enables
interoperability;
(2) construct emergency communication infrastructure,
including radio towers, that is interoperable with the other
emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state
or enables interoperability, including the acquisition of land
necessary for the construction;
(3) cover the cost of adapting existing emergency
communication equipment or infrastructure to, or otherwise
integrating the equipment or infrastructure with, new emergency
communication equipment purchased or infrastructure constructed;
(4) cover the operational or maintenance cost of the
equipment or infrastructure described by Subdivision (1), (2), or
(3); or
(5) attend or provide the training to first responders
on the effective use of the equipment and infrastructure described
by Subdivisions (1), (2), and (3).
Sec. 421.129. GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING. The council may use
any available funds to implement the grant program.
Sec. 421.130. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The council
may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including
private and nonprofit organizations, for the purpose of
implementing this subchapter.
Sec. 421.131. RULES. The division may adopt rules to
administer this subchapter.
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 Texas
Interoperability Council, as required by Section 421.122,
Government Code, as added by this Act, in the manner required by
that section, as follows:
(1) the governor shall appoint two council members to
a term expiring September 1, 2027;
(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint two council
members to a term expiring September 1, 2029; and
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
appoint two council members to a term expiring September 1, 2031.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.