Bill > HB182

This bill establishes the Texas Flash Flood Alley Interoperability Council to address emergency communication and response challenges in the Balcones Fault Zone, a region prone to flash flooding. The council will be composed of eight members (six appointed by state leadership and the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management) and will develop a comprehensive strategic plan for emergency communications and flood response. The council will create and administer a grant program to help local governments in the area purchase interoperable emergency communication equipment, construct communication infrastructure, and train first responders. Key components of the strategic plan include developing communication infrastructure, ensuring equipment interoperability, creating training programs, and establishing cooperation protocols among local governments and first responders. The grant program will provide funding for emergency communication equipment, infrastructure construction, equipment adaptation, and training, with recipients required to meet specific performance requirements and potentially attend training sessions. The council can accept gifts and grants from various sources to support its mission and will have some exemptions from standard public meeting and disclosure regulations. The initial council members will be appointed with staggered six-year terms, with the first appointments set to expire in 2027, 2029, and 2031.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=891&Bill=HB182