S.B. No. 1780         AN ACT   relating to the protection of public health in this state,   including through the establishment of the Texas Epidemic Public   Health Institute at The University of Texas Health Science Center   at Houston.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(6), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:                (6)  "Other agency of higher education" means The   University of Texas System, System Administration; The University   of Texas at El Paso Museum; Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute   at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; The   Texas A&M University System, Administrative and General Offices;   Texas A&M AgriLife Research; Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service;   Rodent and Predatory Animal Control Service (a part of the Texas A&M   AgriLife Extension Service); Texas A&M Engineering Experiment   Station (including the Texas A&M Transportation Institute); Texas   A&M Engineering Extension Service; Texas A&M Forest Service; Texas   Division of Emergency Management; Texas Tech University Museum;   Texas State University System, System Administration; Sam Houston   Memorial Museum; Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum; Cotton   Research Committee of Texas; Texas Water Resources Institute; Texas   A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; and any other unit,   division, institution, or agency which shall be so designated by   statute or which may be established to operate as a component part   of any public senior college or university, or which may be so   classified as provided in this chapter.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 75, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter D to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER D. TEXAS EPIDEMIC PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE          Sec. 75.301.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Board" means the board of regents of The   University of Texas System.                (2)  "Health science center" means The University of   Texas Health Science Center at Houston.                (3)  "Institute" means the Texas Epidemic Public Health   Institute.          Sec. 75.302.  ESTABLISHMENT. The board shall establish and   maintain the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute at the health   science center.          Sec. 75.303.  ROLE AND SCOPE. The institute shall establish   and maintain a public health reserve network of public health   professionals, community health workers, state and local public   health agencies, health care organizations, universities   throughout the state, and other relevant entities and persons for   the purpose of coordinating efforts to:                (1)  protect public health in this state; and                (2)  support pandemic and epidemic disaster   preparedness and response components of the state emergency   management plan required by Section 418.042, Government Code.          Sec. 75.304.  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The administration of   the institute is under the direction of the chancellor of The   University of Texas System and the board through the president of   the health science center.          (b)  The Department of State Health Services shall provide   the institute with access to relevant and timely data necessary for   the institute to perform its duties.          Sec. 75.305.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The institute   may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for the   purposes of the institute.          Sec. 75.306.  INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT FOR REVIEW BY   COMPTROLLER. (a) The institute biennially shall commission an   independent financial audit of its activities from a certified   public accounting firm. The institute shall provide the audit to   the comptroller.          (b)  The comptroller shall review and evaluate the audit and   biennially issue a public report of that review.          Sec. 75.307.  APPROPRIATION CONTINGENCY. The board is   required to implement a provision of this subchapter only if the   legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If   the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that   purpose, the board may, but is not required to, implement the   provision using other money available to the board for that   purpose.          SECTION 3.  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;   [and]                (17)  provisions for protecting public health; and                (18)  other necessary matters relating to disasters.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1780 passed the Senate on   April 21, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 3.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1780 passed the House on   May 25, 2021, by the following vote:  Yeas 122, Nays 24, one   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor