Sec. 418.057. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WORK GROUP. (a) In this section:

(1) "Emergency management director" and "emergency management coordinator" mean the director and coordinator, respectively, designated under Section 418.1015.

(2) "Work group" means the work group established under this section.

(b) The division shall establish a work group of persons knowledgeable on emergency management to study and develop a proposal for enhancing the training and credentialing of emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any other emergency management personnel.

(c) As part of the study and proposal under Subsection (b), the work group shall:

(1) assess the training and credentials necessary for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any other emergency management personnel to effectively oversee the response to and recovery from a disaster;

(2) review training courses that are required for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any other emergency management personnel in this state on September 1, 2019; and

(3) consult with institutions of higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, on the development of degree programs in emergency management in addition to the programs that exist in this state on September 1, 2019.

(d) In conducting the assessment required by Subsection (c)(1), the work group shall consider:

(1) whether the differences in geography, population, and critical infrastructure between emergency management directors' or emergency management coordinators' jurisdictions warrant different levels of training and credentialing;

(2) whether the legislature should enact laws requiring an emergency management director or emergency management coordinator to participate in emergency management training and credentialing before overseeing the response to and recovery from a disaster;

(3) whether to include in any recommended emergency management training under Subdivision (2) information on disaster finance, damage assessment, disaster contracting, debris management, and the skills needed to participate in federal emergency management programs;

(4) whether to implement incentives for emergency management directors, emergency management coordinators, and any other emergency management personnel to complete additional training and continuing education; and

(5) proposals for paying the cost for training for emergency management directors and emergency management coordinators that is more rigorous than the training required by law for the directors and coordinators on September 1, 2019.

(e) Not later than November 1, 2020, the work group shall submit the proposal required under this section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the legislature.

(f) The work group is abolished and this section expires January 1, 2021.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 946 (S.B. 6), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.

Text of section as added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1116 (H.B. 2325), Sec. 1

See also other Secs. 418.057 added by the 86th Legislature.