TEXAS SENATE UNANIMOUSLY PASSES KOLKHORST’S HURRICANE HARVEY LEGISLATION

  

The Texas Senate has unanimously passed priority Hurricane Harvey recovery legislation authored by Senator Lois Kolkhorst.

Senate Bill 6, deemed an “emergency item” by Governor Greg Abbott in his State of the State address, now moves to the state House for final consideration.

The legislation will require the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to provide guidance for disaster response and recovery, and create a wet debris study group to address the problems faced by coastal communities during Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath.

In addition, the legislation establishes an emergency management work group on credentialing, to see that more Texans receive help quickly.

Kolkhorst said one of the top missions of this legislative session is to “address the loss of life and property from Hurricane Harvey”.  She said the victims of Harvey can never be forgotten, and the best way to pay tribute to them is to unite and create a plan for the next disaster.

Kolkhorst added this legislation was written in conjunction with Governor Abbott’s Rebuild Texas Commission, led by Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called the bill “one of the most important bills the Texas Senate will pass this session”.  He congratulated Kolkhorst, and the entire senate for unanimously passing the bill, saying it is key to the state’s rebuilding effort after Harvey and alleviating disasters across Texas.