Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify high-risk flood areas and require local governments to install outdoor warning sirens in those locations.

Highlights:

• Requires the governor to establish and administer a grant program to assist municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities with covering the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens (Sec. 1).

• Requires the office of the governor to establish the following relating to the grant (Sec. 1):

• Eligibility criteria for applicants;

• Application procedures;

• Guidelines relating to grant amounts;

• Procedures for evaluating applicants; and

• Procedures for monitoring the use of an awarded grant.

• Authorizes the governor to delegate the administration of the grant program to a state agency (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify each flood-prone area with a history of severe flooding that warrants the installation of warning sirens (Sec. 2).

• Requires the appropriate municipality based on any of the Board’s identifications to install, maintain, and operate one or more outdoor warning sirens if a governmental entity does not already operate one in that area (Sec. 2).

• Requires the regular testing of outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the Legislature, and 91 days after the end of the legislative session if it does not meet that threshold (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify high-risk flood areas and require local governments to install outdoor warning sirens in those locations.

Highlights:

• Requires the governor to establish and administer a grant program to assist municipalities, counties, and other governmental entities with covering the costs of installing outdoor warning sirens (Sec. 1).

• Requires the office of the governor to establish the following relating to the grant (Sec. 1):

• Eligibility criteria for applicants;

• Application procedures;

• Guidelines relating to grant amounts;

• Procedures for evaluating applicants; and

• Procedures for monitoring the use of an awarded grant.

• Authorizes the governor to delegate the administration of the grant program to a state agency (Sec. 1).

• Requires the Texas Water Development Board to identify each flood-prone area with a history of severe flooding that warrants the installation of warning sirens (Sec. 2).

• Requires the appropriate municipality based on any of the Board’s identifications to install, maintain, and operate one or more outdoor warning sirens if a governmental entity does not already operate one in that area (Sec. 2).

• Requires the regular testing of outdoor warning sirens in flood-prone areas (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote of each chamber of the Legislature, and 91 days after the end of the legislative session if it does not meet that threshold (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text