HB 256

89S20444 CXP-F
		By: Anchía
  H.B. No. 256
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by
  certain entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 796 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 796.  SEVERE WEATHER ADAPTATION PLAN
         Sec. 796.001.  PARTICIPATING ENTITIES.  Not later than
  September 1 of each even-numbered year, each of the following
  entities shall publish a severe weather adaptation plan to assess
  the entity's role with respect to severe weather events:
               (1)  the Department of Agriculture;
               (2)  the Department of Public Safety of the State of
  Texas;
               (3)  the General Land Office;
               (4)  the Health and Human Services Commission;
               (5)  the office of the comptroller;
               (6)  the Parks and Wildlife Department;
               (7)  the Public Utility Commission of Texas;
               (8)  the Texas A&M Forest Service;
               (9)  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
               (10)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community
  Affairs;
               (11)  the Texas Department of Insurance;
               (12)  the Texas Department of Transportation; and
               (13)  the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
         Sec. 796.002.  PLAN.  For purposes of this chapter, a severe
  weather adaptation plan is a strategy to identify, minimize, and
  adequately prepare for the effects of severe weather and to manage
  the risks associated with severe weather.  A plan under this section
  must be based on current research-based science that identifies the
  likely effects on this state from severe weather events.
         Sec. 796.003.  CONTENTS OF PLAN.  (a)  An entity's severe
  weather adaptation plan must include:
               (1)  a severe weather vulnerability assessment;
               (2)  a review of existing programs in the context of
  severe weather events;
               (3)  an analysis of the effects the entity's efforts to
  adapt to severe weather events would have on the entity's budget
  during the next 2, 5, and 10 years;
               (4)  potential sources of funding to support the
  entity's efforts to adapt to severe weather events; and
               (5)  a statewide strategy to monitor the continuing
  effects of severe weather events.
         (b)  In developing a severe weather adaptation plan, each
  entity subject to this chapter may consult with the Office of the
  Texas State Climatologist in the Department of Atmospheric
  Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University.
         (c)  An entity subject to this chapter that is required to
  develop a continuity of operations plan under Section 412.054,
  Labor Code, shall include in the plan the severe weather
  vulnerability assessment described by Subsection (a)(1).
         Sec. 796.004.  POSTING OF PLAN.  (a)  Not later than
  September 1 of each even-numbered year, each entity subject to this
  chapter shall post the entity's severe weather adaptation plan on a
  publicly accessible Internet website and electronically submit a
  copy of the plan to:
               (1)  the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
  the house of representatives;
               (2)  the presiding officer of each standing committee
  or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
  environmental matters; and
               (3)  the executive director of the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (b)  An entity shall redact from the severe weather
  adaptation plan information the release of which might compromise
  the security of the entity's operations before posting the plan on a
  publicly accessible Internet website.
         Sec. 796.005.  AUDIT OF PLAN.  A severe weather adaptation
  plan is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with
  Chapter 321.
         SECTION 2.  Section 796.003(c), Government Code, as added by
  this Act, applies only to a continuity of operations plan developed
  or adopted under Section 412.054, Labor Code, on or after the
  effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.