Wednesday the Texas House of Representatives passed four pieces of legislation authored by Representative Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) in response to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and to help Texas better prepare for future catastrophic storms. House Bill 13 encourages local governments to respond to the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and future floods in the smartest, most comprehensive way, instead of a piecemeal approach. This legislation applies to the entire state, not just one region, and will help our state deal with these disasters in a cohesive and united way for years to come. HB 13 also appropriates $3.26 billion to the Flood Infrastructure Fund from the Economic Stabilization Fund also known as the “Rainy Day Fund”. House Joint Resolution 4 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to allow Texans the opportunity to vote on creating the Flood Infrastructure Fund to assist in the financing, through loans and grants, of drainage flood control, and flood mitigation projects. House Bill 5 addresses the need for better plans to dispose of debris in our communities after a disaster. HB 5 directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management to create a catastrophic debris management plan and model guide for use by political subdivisions and to develop a model contract for debris removal services to improve contracting in the event of a disaster. Lastly, House Bill 1256 allows direct access to immunization records for first responders and their employers during a declared disaster to verify the first responder’s vaccination history. These bills and others that were passed in the Texas House on Wednesday were in response to recommendations that were made by The Governor’s Commission to Rebuild Texas. “Hurricane Harvey devastated many communities across Texas and rebuilding continues to this day. I am proud of the collaborative effort in the Texas House to create and pass legislation that will help us prepare for future catastrophic storms,” said Representative Phelan. “I am committed to addressing the needs of our state in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey to ensure a more resilient Texas.”
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