Crisis management bill fails during Texas' extended legislative period

Texas Legislature Fails to Pass New Emergency Training Standards

In a surprising turn of events, the Texas Legislature adjourned on Thursday without passing new emergency training standards for local officials. The omnibus disaster policy bill, S.B. 2, which included proposals for emergency management coordinators, mayors, sheriffs, and county judges to undergo training and licensing, did not receive a compromise from lawmakers before the adjournment.

S.B. 2 defined lines of succession for emergency management when top officials are absent. However, it did not explain the implications of these defined lines of succession for emergency management or provide information on how the lines of succession are defined.

The bill also proposed a volunteer management system with background checks. While the volunteer management system will undergo background checks, the bill did not detail the process for the training programs for mass-fatality events or specify the details of these programs.

Moreover, the bill did not discuss any potential implications of the defined lines of succession, the volunteer management system, or the training programs on the response to the July 4 floods, which were a major policy recommendation for new standards.

The proposal for emergency management coordinators in Texas to undergo licensing and annual training by the Texas Department of Emergency Management was made by a Texas state legislator. The bill also included training programs for mass-fatality events.

It is important to note that unless Republican Gov. Greg Abbott calls another special session, Texas lawmakers will not meet again until 2027. This means that the lack of new emergency training standards could potentially leave local officials unprepared for future disasters.

The adjournment of the Texas Legislature comes at a critical time, as the state continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly July 4 floods. The absence of new emergency training standards could have significant implications for the state's ability to respond effectively to future disasters.

As the situation develops, it is crucial for Texas lawmakers to reconsider the importance of emergency training standards and work towards finding a compromise to ensure the safety and preparedness of their constituents.