Relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by certain entities.

89(R) HB 2618 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

By: Anchía, Raymond, Zwiener, Bumgarner,

H.B. No. 2618

Darby

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 795 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 795. SEVERE WEATHER ADAPTATION PLAN

Sec.

795.001.

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.

795.002.

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.

795.003.

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.

795.004.

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.

795.005.

AUDIT OF PLAN. A severe weather adaptation

plan is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with

Chapter 321.

SECTION 2. Section 795.003(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 immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.