Sec. 418.134. DUTIES OF HAZARD REDUCTION AND RECOVERY CENTER; PLAN CRITERIA AND CERTIFICATION. (a) The center shall review and certify plans submitted to the center by local governments.

(b) The center shall establish criteria for certifying a plan. The center may not certify a plan unless the plan:

(1) identifies areas in the local government's boundaries that are vulnerable to disasters;

(2) identifies sources of post-disaster housing assistance and recovery funds;

(3) provides procedures for rapidly responding to a disaster, including procedures for:

(A) assessing and reporting housing damage, disaggregated by insured and uninsured losses, to the governor;

(B) providing fair and efficient access to disaster recovery assistance for residents;

(C) determining residents' eligibility for disaster recovery assistance;

(D) educating residents about the rebuilding process and providing outreach and case management services; and

(E) prequalifying and training local professionals needed for disaster recovery;

(4) allows for the temporary waiver or modification of an existing local code, ordinance, or regulation on an emergency basis that may apply in the event of a disaster declaration in order to expedite the process of providing temporary housing or rebuilding residential structures for persons displaced by a disaster;

(5) provides procedures to encourage residents to rebuild outside of the vulnerable areas identified under Subdivision (1);

(6) provides procedures to maximize the use of local businesses, contractors, and supplies to rebuild to the extent possible;

(7) provides procedures to maximize cost efficiency;

(8) provides for the provision of:

(A) temporary housing to displaced residents as soon as possible after the disaster, with a goal of providing the housing within six months following the disaster; and

(B) permanent replacement housing to displaced residents as soon as possible after the disaster, with a goal of providing the housing within three years following the disaster;

(9) specifies whether the local government that submitted the plan or the General Land Office, as determined by the General Land Office, will administer disaster rebuilding activities under the plan;

(10) provides a procedure through which the local government that submits the plan is required to, between every four to seven years:

(A) review the plan to ensure continued local community support;

(B) provide the center with, as necessary, revisions to the plan based on the review conducted under Paragraph (A); and

(C) provide the center with a resolution or proclamation adopted by the local government that certifies continued local community support for the plan; and

(11) complies with applicable state and federal law.

(c) If the center determines that a plan does not meet the criteria prescribed by Subsection (b), the center shall identify the plan's deficiencies and assist the local government in revising the plan to meet the criteria.

(d) The center shall provide training to local governments and community-based organizations on developing a plan. A local government that submits a plan to the center for certification under this section shall designate at least one representative to attend the center's training. The training must include information relating to:

(1) previous experiences with housing recovery from disasters;

(2) best practices for achieving rapid and efficient construction of permanent replacement housing;

(3) federal and state laws and regulations on disaster recovery;

(4) methods for identifying and planning for vulnerable areas and populations before a disaster; and

(5) cost-effective land use and building practices.

(e) The center shall create and maintain mapping and data resources related to disaster recovery and planning, including the Texas Coastal Communities Planning Atlas.

(f) The center shall assist a local government on request in identifying areas that are vulnerable to disasters.

(g) The center shall provide recommendations to the Texas Department of Insurance regarding the development of policies, procedures, and education programs to enable the quick and efficient reporting and settling of housing claims related to disasters.

(h) The center may seek and accept gifts, grants, donations, and other funds to assist the center in fulfilling its duties under this section.

Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 576 (S.B. 289), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019.