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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR:	Heaton		DATE TYPED:	01/28/02		HB	261
SHORT TITLE:		Update All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan				SB
					ANALYST:		Belmares

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY02

FY03

FY02

FY03

$100.0

Non-Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Responses Received

Department of Public Safety (DPS)

LFC Files

No Response

Department of Health (DOH)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Section 1. House Bill 261 requires DPS in conjunction with DOH to review and revise the current State All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (the “Plan”) and conduct two tests of the Plan to ensure that the state has in place the procedures necessary to respond to an emergency or disaster that requires the resources of the state. HB 261 also requires the agencies to provide progress reports every 60 days to the Health and Human Services or the Legislative Finance committees on plan updates and testing status and to provide findings and recommendations for legislative initiatives and funding proposals by November 2002 to either committee.

Section 2. HB 261 requires DPS to complete the activities pursuant to the act and provide its final report to the governor and the legislature by December 31, 2002.

Section 3. HB 261 appropriates $100.0 from the general fund to the DPS for expenditure in FY02 and FY03 to be expended by December 31, 2002 to execute the provision of Section 1 of the act.

Section 4. HB 261 has an emergency clause.

Significant Issues

The Governor signed the current Plan in July 1999. State agency have responsibilities outlined in the Plan; however, most state agencies that have responsibilities during emergencies and disasters do not have staff assigned to work on emergency/disaster plans. DPS suggests that each agency identify permanent staff members with emergency planning responsibilities and allow for training.

In addressing HB 261, DPS indicates that development of emergency exercises (tests) is a significant undertaking and the department would need to hire contractors to develop the exercises to conduct two statewide emergency tests by July 31, 2002 and October 31, 2002.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100.0 contained in this bill is a non-recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY03 shall revert to the general fund. DPS indicates the $100.0 contained in HB 261 is sufficient to address the overtime, contractual, printing, and travel for exercise participants.

RELATIONSHIP

The State Civil Emergency Preparedness Act, mandates that all state agencies (including universities), collaborate with each other and the federal government in preparing for and responding to all threats, to include chemical and biological threats. The same agencies are required to have a strategy and an All Hazards Emergency Plan that addresses all threats.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

DPS indicates that Plan revisions and tests would be completed, but not as expeditiously because of funding and staffing constraints.

AMENDMENTS

DPS has suggested that the deadline of July 31, 2002 for completion of the first exercise be changed to August 30, 2002. The second test could be used to retest shortfalls identified in the first exercise and be as extensive.

EB/ar