Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 418.0544. DISASTER PREPARATION CONTRACTS. (a) The division, in consultation with other state agencies the division considers appropriate, shall develop a plan to assist political subdivisions of this state with executing contracts for services that political subdivisions are…

Sec. 418.0545. DISASTER CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. (a) The division shall, subject to the availability of funds, contract with a vendor to develop and maintain an electronic disaster case management system. (b) The system developed under Subsection (a) may be used for case managemen…

Sec. 418.0546. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR SPECIALTY CARE POPULATIONS. The division, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services and local governmental entities that have established emergency management plans, shall develop a plan to increase the capabilities of local em…

Sec. 418.0547. ACCESS TO LOCAL VOLUNTEER NETWORKS; VOLUNTEER MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS. (a) The division, in consultation with the Department of State Health Services, shall increase awareness of and encourage local government emergency response teams to utilize services provided by l…

Sec. 418.0548. COMMUNICATIONS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A DISASTER. The division, in collaboration with other appropriate entities selected by the division, shall to the extent practicable include private wireless communication, Internet, and cable service providers in the disaster p…

Sec. 418.0549. HARDENING OF UTILITY FACILITIES AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. (a) In this section, "critical infrastructure" includes hospitals and fire stations. (b) The division shall identify methods for hardening utility facilities and critical infrastructure in order to mainta…

Sec. 418.055. INFORMATION SHARING WORK GROUP. (a) In this section, "work group" means the work group established under this section. (b) The division shall establish a work group of state agencies involved in disaster management. The work group consists of members appointed by th…

Sec. 418.0551. PERMITTING TASK FORCE. (a) The division shall form a task force with representatives from the General Land Office, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Departm…

Sec. 418.0552. BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) In this section, "advisory council" means the business advisory council established under this section. (b) The business advisory council is established to provide advice and expertise on actions state and local governments can take t…

Sec. 418.0553. DISASTER RECOVERY TASK FORCE. (a) The division shall develop a disaster recovery task force to operate throughout the long-term recovery period following natural and man-made disasters by providing specialized assistance for communities and individuals to address f…

Sec. 418.0554. COORDINATING 9-1-1 TEXT MESSAGE CAPABILITY. The division, in consultation with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, shall coordinate state and local government efforts to make 9-1-1 emergency service capable of receiving text messages from a cellular telephone…

Sec. 418.0555. SOCIAL MEDIA USE DURING AND AFTER DISASTERS. The division, in consultation with any state agency or private entity the division determines is appropriate, shall develop standards for the use of social media as a communication tool by governmental entities during an…

Sec. 418.056. DISASTER MOBILE APPLICATION. (a) The division shall develop a mobile application for wireless communication devices to communicate critical information during a disaster directly to disaster victims and first responders. (b) The mobile application may provide inform…

Sec. 418.057. DISASTER WEB PORTAL. The division shall develop a comprehensive disaster web portal. The web portal must: (1) provide disaster information to the public, including information on programs and services available to disaster victims and funding for and expenditures of…

Sec. 418.058. USE OF DATA ANALYTICS IN DISASTER MANAGEMENT. To the extent feasible, the division shall use data analytics software to integrate data from federal, state, local, and nongovernmental sources to more effectively manage disaster response and recovery. Added by Acts 20…

Sec. 418.059. GUIDE ON PREPARING FOR AND RESPONDING TO ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENT AT SCHOOL FACILITY. (a) The division, in coordination with the Emergency Management Council, shall develop a guide on preparing for and responding to an active shooter incident at a primary or secondar…

Sec. 418.061. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Account" means the disaster recovery loan account created under Section 418.066. (2) "Eligible political subdivision" means a county, municipality, or school district that meets the qualifications prescribed by Section 418.062. …

Sec. 418.062. ELIGIBILITY FOR LOAN. A political subdivision may apply to the division for a loan under this subchapter if: (1) the political subdivision: (A) is located wholly or partly in an area declared to be a disaster area by the governor or the president of the United State…

Sec. 418.063. DISASTER RECOVERY LOAN PROGRAM. The division by rule shall establish a loan program to use money from the account to provide short-term loans for disaster recovery projects to eligible political subdivisions. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 946 (S.B. 6), Se…

Sec. 418.064. LOANS. (a) A loan made from the account must be subject to the following conditions: (1) the loan must be made at or below market interest rates for a term not to exceed 10 years; and (2) the loan proceeds must be expended by the eligible political subdivision solel…

Sec. 418.065. APPLICATION FOR LOAN. The division shall develop and implement an application process for a loan under this subchapter. At a minimum, the application must include: (1) a description of the disaster recovery project for which the applicant is requesting the loan; (2)…

Sec. 418.066. CREATION OF ACCOUNT. (a) The disaster recovery loan account is created as an account in the general revenue fund with the comptroller, to be administered by the division. (b) Money in the account may be used only to provide short-term loans to eligible political sub…

Sec. 418.067. RULES. The division shall adopt rules to implement and administer this subchapter. The rules adopted by the division to implement this subchapter must include the development of a form on which a political subdivision may electronically submit its budget to the divi…

Sec. 418.071. STATE POLICY. It is the intent of the legislature and the policy of the state that funds to meet disaster emergencies always be available. Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.

Sec. 418.073. DISASTER CONTINGENCY FUND. (a) The disaster contingency fund consists of money appropriated to the fund. (b) It is the intent of the legislature that in responding to an emergency or disaster, the first recourse of state and local agencies should be to the funds reg…

Sec. 418.074. ACCEPTANCE AND ALLOCATION OF GIFTS AND GRANTS. (a) If the federal government, another public or private agency, or an individual offers to the state or through the state to a political subdivision services, equipment, supplies, materials, or funds as a gift, grant, …

Sec. 418.081. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Account" means the rural infrastructure disaster recovery account created under Section 418.086. (2) "Critical infrastructure" includes: (A) a road; (B) a public school; (C) a hospital or other health care facility; (D) a water …

Sec. 418.082. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY PROGRAM. (a) The division shall establish and administer a rural infrastructure disaster recovery program in accordance with this subchapter to benefit eligible political subdivisions. The program must be designed to provide fi…

Sec. 418.083. ELIGIBILITY FOR GRANT. A political subdivision is eligible to apply to the division for a grant under this subchapter if the political subdivision is: (1) a county: (A) that: (i) has a population of less than 100,000; (ii) has a gross domestic product of less than $…

Sec. 418.084. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The division may make a grant to an eligible political subdivision using money in the account to assist in the rebuilding or repair of critical infrastructure located in the eligible political subdivision that is damaged by a disaster that may rea…

Sec. 418.085. APPLICATION FOR GRANT. (a) The division shall establish an application process for a grant under this subchapter. (b) At a minimum, an application must include: (1) a description of the infrastructure repair or rebuild project for which the applicant is requesting t…

Sec. 418.086. RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DISASTER RECOVERY ACCOUNT. (a) The rural infrastructure disaster recovery account is established as an account in the general revenue fund with the comptroller, to be administered by the division. (b) The division may use the rural infrastructur…

Sec. 418.087. RULES. The division shall adopt rules necessary to administer this subchapter, including rules establishing procedures for the application for and award of grants, distribution of grants, and administration of grants and the grant program established under this subc…

Sec. 418.101. ALL POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS SERVED. (a) Each political subdivision is within the jurisdiction of and served by the division and by a local or interjurisdictional agency responsible for disaster preparedness and coordination of response. (b) The presiding officer of t…

Sec. 418.1015. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS. (a) The presiding officer of the governing body of an incorporated city or a county or the chief administrative officer of a joint board is designated as the emergency management director for the officer's political subdivision. (b) …

Sec. 418.102. COUNTY PROGRAMS. (a) Each county shall maintain an emergency management program or participate in a local or interjurisdictional emergency management program that, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire county or in…

Sec. 418.103. MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS. (a) The governor shall determine which municipal corporations need emergency management programs of their own and shall recommend that they be established and maintained. The governor shall make the determinations on the basis of the municipality…

Sec. 418.104. INTERJURISDICTIONAL PROGRAMS. The governor may recommend that a political subdivision establish and maintain a program and form an interjurisdictional agency jointly with one or more other political subdivisions if the governor finds that the establishment and maint…

Sec. 418.105. LIAISON OFFICERS. (a) Each city that does not have a program and has not made arrangements to secure or participate in the services of an existing program shall designate a liaison officer to facilitate the cooperation and protection of the city in the work of disas…

Sec. 418.106. LOCAL AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANS. (a) Each local and interjurisdictional agency shall prepare and keep current an emergency management plan for its area providing for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. (b) The plan mus…

Sec. 418.107. LOCAL FINANCE. (a) A political subdivision may make appropriations for emergency management services as provided by law for making appropriations for ordinary expenses. (b) Political subdivisions may make agreements for the purpose of organizing emergency management…

Sec. 418.1075. SUSPENSION OF DEADLINES IMPOSED BY LOCAL LAW. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a deadline imposed by local law on a political subdivision, including a deadline relating to a budget or ad valorem tax, is suspended if: (1) the territory of the political subdivision…

Sec. 418.108. DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the presiding officer of the governing body of a political subdivision may declare a local state of disaster. (b) A declaration of local disaster may not be continued or renewed for a period of…

Sec. 418.1085. LIMITATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION AND RELATED SERVICES. The presiding officer of the governing body of a political subdivision may not issue an order during a declared state of disaster or local disaster to address a pandemic disaster that would limit or prohibit: (1) ho…

Sec. 418.109. AUTHORITY TO RENDER MUTUAL AID ASSISTANCE. (a) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 865, Sec. 1.08, eff. June 15, 2007. (b) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 865, Sec. 1.08, eff. June 15, 2007. (c) Repealed by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 865, Se…

Sec. 418.110. STATEWIDE MUTUAL AID PROGRAM FOR FIRE EMERGENCIES. (a) The division, in consultation with state fire protection agencies and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, may develop a statewide mutual aid program for fire emergencies. (b) A program developed under this …