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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing legislative district volunteer emergency |
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response teams. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 11, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 364 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 364. LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY RESPONSE |
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TEAMS |
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Sec. 364.001. LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY |
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RESPONSE TEAMS. If explicitly provided for under an emergency |
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management plan adopted under Section 418.106, Government Code, a |
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district within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico from which a member |
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of the state house of representatives is elected may form a district |
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volunteer emergency response team to: |
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(1) increase the number of trained volunteer |
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responders in the district; |
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(2) assist local government to coordinate information |
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among district residents and local and state government officials; |
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(3) assist local and state government to coordinate |
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distribution of aid during a disaster or emergency; and |
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(4) serve as a source of information to the residents |
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of the district. |
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Sec. 364.002. TEAM MEMBERSHIP. Each district volunteer |
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emergency response team may include: |
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(1) licensed amateur radio operators; |
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(2) persons who have a medical background; and |
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(3) persons who have completed Federal Emergency |
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Management Agency Incident Command System training classes 100, |
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200, 700, and 800A. |
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Sec. 364.003. DUTIES OF TEAM. The district volunteer |
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emergency response team shall collaborate with county and municipal |
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emergency management entities to determine the scope of work and |
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duties of the team. |
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Sec. 364.004. COMMUNICATIONS CENTERS. Each communications |
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center may contain an amateur radio operator, radio equipment, and |
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wireless Internet access. |
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Sec. 364.005. MEDICAL TRIAGE TRANSPORT STAGING DUTIES. (a) |
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The medical triage transport staging site may: |
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(1) be equipped with a generator; |
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(2) include restroom facilities, showers, and a food |
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preparation location; |
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(3) have available an amateur radio operator; |
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(4) have equipment that has the capacity to produce |
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ice; and |
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(5) be located in an area that is not subject to |
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flooding during a category four hurricane. |
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(b) The district volunteer emergency response team shall |
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coordinate with county and municipal emergency management entities |
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and the elected state representative representing the district |
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about the location of the medical triage transport staging site. |
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Sec. 364.006. APPROPRIATIONS. Each district volunteer |
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emergency response team that complies with the requirements of this |
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chapter may be eligible to receive money appropriated by the state. |
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Sec. 364.007. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNTY. The county in |
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which most of the district residents reside may: |
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(1) administer the district volunteer emergency |
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response team's funds, including any money appropriated to the team |
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by the state; |
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(2) make purchases for the team; and |
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(3) provide the team with appropriate equipment. |
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Sec. 364.008. LEGISLATIVE LIAISON. The state |
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representative whose district creates a district volunteer |
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emergency response team shall serve as a liaison for the team. Each |
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state senator that represents the district may also serve as a |
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liaison. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |