HB1144 - Relating to state and local government disaster preparedness.

  89R3434 MCK-F     By: Morales Shaw H.B. No. 1144       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to state and local government disaster preparedness.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 418.054(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The division shall develop a model guide for local   officials regarding disaster response and recovery. The guide must   provide a comprehensive approach to disaster recovery by local   officials and include information on:                (1)  contracting for debris removal;                (2)  obtaining federal disaster funding;                (3)  coordinating the availability and construction of   short-term and long-term housing; [ and ]                (4)  obtaining assistance from local, state, and   federal volunteer organizations ; and                 (5)     planning practices for developing and reviewing   local and interjurisdictional emergency management plans under   Section 418.106 to ensure:                       (A)     the needs of the community's vulnerable   populations, including persons with disabilities, persons who are   homeless, and low-income households, are accurately identified;                       (B)     the emergency management plans address the   needs identified under Paragraph (A); and                       (C)     the community resources that vulnerable   populations rely on remain available during a disaster .          SECTION 2.  Section 418.106(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The plan must provide for:                (1)  wage, price, and rent controls and other economic   stabilization methods in the event of a disaster; [ and ]                (2)  curfews, blockades, and limitations on utility use   in an area affected by a disaster, rules governing entrance to and   exit from the affected area, and other security measures ;                 (3)     integrated and inclusive operations specific to   individuals with disabilities to afford those individuals an   equitable opportunity to benefit from all disaster response and   recovery measures, programs, services, and activities;                 (4)     the increase in the capabilities of local   emergency shelters in the provision of shelter and care for   individuals with disabilities during a disaster;                 (5)     wellness checks for individuals with disabilities   in the manner provided by Subchapter I;                 (6)     the establishment of minimum health-related   standards for short-term and long-term shelter operations for   shelters operated with state funds or receiving state assistance;                 (7)     an emergency notification system that notifies   individuals with disabilities of a disaster or emergency and of any   actions the individuals should take to prepare for or respond to the   disaster or emergency;                 (8)     personnel surge capacity during a disaster,   including plans for providing lodging and meals for disaster relief   workers and volunteers; and                 (9)     horizontal integration of emergency preparedness   and response plans required for licensed facilities and providers   serving individuals with disabilities .          SECTION 3.  Section 418.186(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The Department of State Health Services shall establish   a program designed to educate the citizens of this state on disaster   and emergency preparedness, response, and recovery. Before   establishing the program, the department must collaborate with   local authorities to prevent state efforts that are duplicative of   local efforts. The program must address:                (1)  types of disasters or other emergencies;                (2)  the appropriate response to each type of disaster   or emergency, including options for evacuation and shelter;                (3)  how to prepare for each type of disaster or   emergency;                (4)  the impact of each type of disaster or emergency on   citizens requiring medical assistance or other care;                (5)  ways to respond in a disaster or emergency or to   assist the victims of a disaster or emergency; [ and ]                (6)  resources and supplies for disaster or emergency   recovery ; and                 (7)     the resources, services, and programs that are   available to address the needs of persons with disabilities during   a disaster or other emergency .          SECTION 4.  Section 418.1882, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as   follows:          (a)  With the direction, oversight, and approval of the   division and the assistance of the Department of State Health   Services, health care facilities, county officials, trauma service   area regional advisory councils, and other appropriate entities,   each council of government, regional planning commission, or   similar regional planning agency created under Chapter 391, Local   Government Code, shall , as part of a crisis standards of care plan,   develop a regional plan for personnel surge capacity during   disasters, including plans for providing lodging and meals for   disaster relief workers and volunteers.           (a-1)     The Department of State Health Services Preparedness   Coordinating Council shall create a framework and provide guidance   for the development of crisis standards of care plans. In   developing the crisis standards of care framework, the council   shall consult with the Department of State Health Services, health   care facilities, county officials, trauma service area regional   advisory councils, and each council of government, regional   planning commission, or similar regional planning agency created   under Chapter 391, Local Government Code.          SECTION 5.  Section 418.192(c), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (c)  The emergency notification system for which a contract   is entered into under Subsection (b) must rely on a dynamic   information database that:                (1)  is capable of simultaneous transmission of   emergency messages to all recipients through at least two   industry-standard gateways to one or more telephones or electronic   devices owned by a recipient in a manner that does not negatively   impact the existing communications infrastructure;                (2)  allows the public service provider to:                      (A)  store prewritten emergency messages in the   dynamic information database for subsequent use; [ and ]                      (B)  generate emergency messages in real time   based on provider inputs; and                       (C)     send emergency messages in both audio and   visual formats;                (3)  allows a recipient to select the language in which   the recipient would prefer to receive messages;                (4)  transmits the message in the recipient's language   of choice to that recipient;                (5)  converts text messages to sound files and   transmits those sound files to the appropriate device;                (6)  assigns recipients to priority groups for   notification;                (7)  allows for the collection and verification of   responses by recipients of emergency messages; and                (8)  reads or receives alerts from a commercial mobile   alert system established by the Federal Communications Commission   or complies with standards adopted for a commercial mobile alert   system established by the Federal Communications Commission.          SECTION 6.  Section 421.002(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The governor's homeland security strategy shall   coordinate homeland security activities among and between local,   state, and federal agencies and the private sector and must include   specific plans for:                (1)  intelligence gathering and analysis;                (2)  information sharing;                (3)  reducing the state's vulnerability to homeland   security emergencies;                (4)  protecting critical infrastructure;                (5)  protecting the state's international border,   ports, and airports;                (6)  detecting, deterring, and defending against   terrorism, including cyber-terrorism and biological, chemical, and   nuclear terrorism;                (7)  positioning equipment, technology, and personnel   to improve the state's ability to respond to a homeland security   emergency;                (8)  directing the Texas Fusion Center and giving the   center certain forms of authority to implement the governor's   homeland security strategy; [ and ]                (9)  using technological resources to:                      (A)  facilitate the interoperability of   government technological resources, including data, networks, and   applications;                      (B)  coordinate the warning and alert systems of   state and local agencies;                      (C)  incorporate multidisciplinary approaches to   homeland security; and                      (D)  improve the security of governmental and   private sector information technology and information resources ;   and                 (10)     building community resilience and reducing   long-term vulnerability for persons with disabilities by   implementing inclusive disaster and emergency planning practices &#xA0 [Text truncated for display. 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