85R8230 JG-F     By: Martinez H.B. No. 1598       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the disaster identification system   for a state of disaster.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (3-a) to read as follows:                (3-a)  "Illuminated display" means a device that:                      (A)  displays blue, green, red, and yellow colors   or the color white; and                      (B)  displays a flashing and a steady light.          SECTION 2.  Section 418.015(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  An executive order or proclamation declaring a state of   disaster:                (1)  activates the disaster recovery and   rehabilitation aspects of the state emergency management plan   applicable to the area subject to the declaration; [and]                (2)  authorizes the deployment and use of any forces to   which the plan applies and the use or distribution of any supplies,   equipment, and materials or facilities assembled, stockpiled, or   arranged to be made available under this chapter or other law   relating to disasters; and                (3)  activates for the area subject to the declaration   the disaster identification system described by Section 418.0155.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter B, Chapter 418, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 418.0155 to read as follows:          Sec. 418.0155.  DISASTER IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM. (a) In an   area subject to a declaration of a state of disaster under Section   418.014, a person may use an illuminated display to communicate   with disaster relief personnel. A person who elects to participate   in the disaster identification system shall:                (1)  affix to each individual and domesticated animal   in the person's household an illuminated display of the following   colors:                      (A)  if the person has a monochromatic illuminated   display, the color white for each individual and animal; or                      (B)  if the person has a multicolored illuminated   display:                            (i)  blue for individuals 18 years of age or   older;                            (ii)  green for individuals with a   disability;                            (iii)  red for individuals younger than 18   years of age; and                            (iv)  yellow for animals; and                (2)  using the illuminated display, signal to disaster   relief personnel responding to the area after the disaster with:                      (A)  a solid light on the display of each   household member who is healthy and not in need of medical   assistance; or                      (B)  a flashing light on the display of each   household member who is in need of medical assistance.          (b)  Disaster relief personnel may patrol the designated   disaster area by air or ground at night to locate persons with   activated illuminated displays.          SECTION 4.  Section 418.042(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The division shall prepare and keep current a   comprehensive state emergency management plan.  The plan may   include:                (1)  provisions for prevention and minimization of   injury and damage caused by disaster;                (2)  provisions for prompt and effective response to   disaster;                (3)  provisions for emergency relief;                (4)  provisions for energy emergencies;                (5)  identification of areas particularly vulnerable   to disasters;                (6)  recommendations for zoning, building   restrictions, and other land-use controls, safety measures for   securing mobile homes or other nonpermanent or semipermanent   structures, and other preventive and preparedness measures   designed to eliminate or reduce disasters or their impact;                (7)  provisions for assistance to local officials in   designing local emergency management plans;                (8)  authorization and procedures for the erection or   other construction of temporary works designed to protect against   or mitigate danger, damage, or loss from flood, fire, or other   disaster;                (9)  preparation and distribution to the appropriate   state and local officials of state catalogs of federal, state, and   private assistance programs;                (10)  organization of manpower and channels of   assistance;                (11)  coordination of federal, state, and local   emergency management activities;                (12)  coordination of the state emergency management   plan with the emergency management plans of the federal government;                (13)  coordination of federal and state energy   emergency plans;                (14)  provisions for providing information to local   officials on activation of the Emergency Alert System established   under 47 C.F.R. Part 11;                (15)  a database of public facilities that may be used   under Section 418.017 to shelter individuals during a disaster,   including air-conditioned facilities for shelter during an extreme   heat disaster and fortified structures for shelter during a wind   disaster;                (16)  provisions for quickly replenishing the food   supplies of area food banks or food pantries following a disaster;                (17)  provisions for the use of the disaster   identification system described by Section 418.0155; and                (18) [(17)]  other necessary matters relating to   disasters.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.