Focus Report, Volume 75, Number 10, July 1997 Page: 4
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Funding the emergency management program
HB9 by Gray (Armbrister)DIGEST:
GOVERNOR'
REASON
FOR VETO:
RESPONSE:NOTES:
HB 99 would have, created a disaster management fund within the state
treasury and authorized its funding through an assessment of one-thirtieth of
one percent of gross receipts of all public utilities ultimately serving the
consumer. Utilities would have been required to include the assessment in
utility rates, but could have not separately stated it on consumers' bills
The governor could have used the fundsto provide assistance to individuals,
families and political subdivisions when the president did not declare a
disaster or did not rant assistance for certain kinds of assistance.
"House Bill -99 creates a hidden tax on utility bills, and specifically prohibits
the tax from being disclosed on consumers' bills. The goals of establishing
state fund for emergency disaster relief is a good one, but should not be
funded with.a -hidden tax on Texans' utility bills."S
Rep. Patricia Gray, the author of the bill, said: "I am deeply disappointed that ,
the governor vetoed HB 99. We had consulted with the governor's staff from
the beginning on this bill. As originally drafted, the fund was to be created
with a surcharge on insurance policies. Thelegislative committees balked at
that because it would only apply to property owners.- The utility companies
helped us with a utility surcharge, which was much cheaper for the consumer
approximately 12 cents a month.as opposed to'approximately $1.25 a
month for the insurance surcharge -because.it spread the-burden over a
much larger population. The bill did more than just create the trust fund,
however. It authorized the governor's emergency management division to
work-with communities to help prevent damage in disasters before the
damage occurs. I hope we can address this issue again in the next session.
Texas needs to be pro-active; not just re-active, in this critical area."Seri. Ken Armbrister, the Senate sponsor, said: "If the governor doesn't wish
his emergency management response funded that will be considered in the
next budget."
HB 99 was analyzed in Part 1 of the May 8 Daily Floor Report. -.House Research Organization
,
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Texas. Legislature. House of Representatives. Research Organization. Focus Report, Volume 75, Number 10, July 1997, periodical, July 1, 1997; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth654448/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.