Bill Text: TX SB941 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to establishment of the disaster identification system for a declared state of disaster.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-03 - Referred to Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs [SB941 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB941-Introduced.html

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88R3344 MCF-F
By: LaMantia, Sparks S.B. No. 941

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishment of the disaster identification system for
a declared state of disaster.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:
(3-a) "Illuminated display" means a device capable of
displaying a flashing light and a continuous light in either the
color white or the colors blue, green, red, and yellow.
SECTION 2. Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of
disaster:
(1) activates the disaster recovery and
rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan
applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [and]
(2) authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to
which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies,
equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or
arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law
relating to disasters; and
(3) activates for the area subject to the declaration
the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0151.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 418.0151 to read as follows:
Sec. 418.0151. DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an
area subject to a state of disaster declaration, a person may elect
to participate in the disaster identification system activated for
the area. The system must authorize the use of an illuminated
display to communicate with disaster relief personnel.
(b) A person participating in the disaster identification
system shall:
(1) affix to each individual and domesticated animal
in the person's household an illuminated display of the following
colors:
(A) if the person has a monochromatic illuminated
display, the color white for each individual and animal; or
(B) if the person has a multicolored illuminated
display:
(i) blue for each individual 18 years of age
or older;
(ii) green for each individual with a
disability;
(iii) red for each individual younger than
18 years of age; and
(iv) yellow for each animal; and
(2) using the illuminated display, signal to disaster
relief personnel responding to the area after the disaster with:
(A) a continuous light on the display of each
household member who does not need medical assistance; or
(B) a flashing light on the display of each
household member who needs medical assistance.
(c) Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated
disaster area by air or ground at night to locate individuals or
animals with activated illuminated displays.
SECTION 4. Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The division shall prepare and keep current a
comprehensive state emergency management plan. The plan may
include:
(1) provisions for prevention and minimization of
injury and damage caused by disaster;
(2) provisions for prompt and effective response to
disaster;
(3) provisions for emergency relief;
(4) provisions for energy emergencies;
(5) identification of areas particularly vulnerable
to disasters;
(6) recommendations for zoning, building
restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for
securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent
structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures
designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;
(7) provisions for assistance to local officials in
designing local emergency management plans;
(8) authorization and procedures for the erection or
other construction of temporary works designed to protect against
or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other
disaster;
(9) preparation and distribution to the appropriate
state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and
private assistance programs;
(10) organization of manpower and channels of
assistance;
(11) coordination of federal, state, and local
emergency management activities;
(12) coordination of the state emergency management
plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;
(13) coordination of federal and state energy
emergency plans;
(14) provisions for providing information to local
officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established
under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;
(15) a database of public facilities that may be used
under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster,
including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme
heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind
disaster;
(16) provisions for quickly replenishing the food
supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;
(17) provisions for protecting public health;
(18) provisions for the use of the disaster
identification system described by Section 418.0151; and
(19) [(18)] other necessary matters relating to
disasters.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.