89S20444 CXP-F     By: Anchía H.B. No. 256       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the development of a severe weather adaptation plan by   certain entities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding   Chapter 796 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 796. SEVERE WEATHER ADAPTATION PLAN          Sec. 796.001.  PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. Not later than   September 1 of each even-numbered year, each of the following   entities shall publish a severe weather adaptation plan to assess   the entity's role with respect to severe weather events:                (1)  the Department of Agriculture;                (2)  the Department of Public Safety of the State of   Texas;                (3)  the General Land Office;                (4)  the Health and Human Services Commission;                (5)  the office of the comptroller;                (6)  the Parks and Wildlife Department;                (7)  the Public Utility Commission of Texas;                (8)  the Texas A&M Forest Service;                (9)  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;                (10)  the Texas Department of Housing and Community   Affairs;                (11)  the Texas Department of Insurance;                (12)  the Texas Department of Transportation; and                (13)  the Texas Division of Emergency Management.          Sec. 796.002.  PLAN. For purposes of this chapter, a severe   weather adaptation plan is a strategy to identify, minimize, and   adequately prepare for the effects of severe weather and to manage   the risks associated with severe weather. A plan under this section   must be based on current research-based science that identifies the   likely effects on this state from severe weather events.          Sec. 796.003.  CONTENTS OF PLAN. (a) An entity's severe   weather adaptation plan must include:                (1)  a severe weather vulnerability assessment;                (2)  a review of existing programs in the context of   severe weather events;                (3)  an analysis of the effects the entity's efforts to   adapt to severe weather events would have on the entity's budget   during the next 2, 5, and 10 years;                (4)  potential sources of funding to support the   entity's efforts to adapt to severe weather events; and                (5)  a statewide strategy to monitor the continuing   effects of severe weather events.          (b)  In developing a severe weather adaptation plan, each   entity subject to this chapter may consult with the Office of the   Texas State Climatologist in the Department of Atmospheric   Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas A&M University.          (c)  An entity subject to this chapter that is required to   develop a continuity of operations plan under Section 412.054,   Labor Code, shall include in the plan the severe weather   vulnerability assessment described by Subsection (a)(1).          Sec. 796.004.  POSTING OF PLAN. (a) Not later than   September 1 of each even-numbered year, each entity subject to this   chapter shall post the entity's severe weather adaptation plan on a   publicly accessible Internet website and electronically submit a   copy of the plan to:                (1)  the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of   the house of representatives;                (2)  the presiding officer of each standing committee   or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over   environmental matters; and                (3)  the executive director of the Texas Commission on   Environmental Quality.          (b)  An entity shall redact from the severe weather   adaptation plan information the release of which might compromise   the security of the entity's operations before posting the plan on a   publicly accessible Internet website.          Sec. 796.005.  AUDIT OF PLAN. A severe weather adaptation   plan is subject to audit by the state auditor in accordance with   Chapter 321.          SECTION 2.  Section 796.003(c), Government Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a continuity of operations plan developed   or adopted under Section 412.054, Labor Code, on or after the   effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the   last day of the legislative session.