HB 94

By: Toth
  H.B. No. 94
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to creating a grant program administered by the Texas
  Division of Emergency Management.
         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 DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HILL COUNTRY
  2025 FLOOD RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM
         Sec. 421.121.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Division" means Texas Division of Emergency
  Management.
               (2)  "Chief" means the Chief of the 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 DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HILL
  COUNTRY 2025 FLOOD RESPONSE GRANT PROGRAM.  (a) The Texas Division
  of Emergency Management Hill Country Flood Response Grant Program
  is established to:
               (1)  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.
         Sec. 421.123.  GRANT PROGRAM.  (a)  The Division 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
  Division, and comply with the rules established by the Division for
  the administration of the grant program. 
         (c)  The Chief 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 Division shall enter into a contract that includes
  performance requirements with each grant recipient.  The Division
  shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract.
         (e)  The Division 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 Division, which may include incident command system
  training; and
               (2)  the recipient adopt standardized procedures for
  incident command or management.
         Sec. 421.124.  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. 421.125.  GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING.  The Division may use
  any available funds to implement the grant program.
         Sec. 421.126.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.  The Division
  may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including
  private and nonprofit organizations, for the purpose of
  implementing this subchapter.
         Sec. 421.127.  RULES.  The Division may adopt rules to
  administer this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.