88(4) HB 33 - Introduced version - Bill Text
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the legislature, courts, the governor, |
 
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and other state and local officials regarding declared states of |
 
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disaster. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    Subchapter A, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
 
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amended by adding Sections 418.007, 418.008, and 418.009 to read as |
 
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follows: |
 
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             Sec.  418.007.    RECOMMENDATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND |
 
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COORDINATION.  A state or local official may issue recommendations |
 
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and nonbinding guidelines to assist with a state of disaster |
 
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declared under this chapter and may coordinate public and private |
 
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resources to prevent or respond to the disaster. |
 
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             Sec.  418.008.    PROTECTION OF RIGHTS. Notwithstanding any |
 
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other law, an order issued by the governor or a state or local |
 
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official under this chapter that regulates and infringes on the |
 
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rights of any private person must be: |
 
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                         (1)    narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public |
 
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health or safety purpose; and |
 
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                         (2)    limited in duration, applicability, and scope to |
 
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reduce any infringement on individual liberty. |
 
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             Sec.  418.009.    STATE COURT JURISDICTION. (a) District and |
 
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appellate courts of this state have jurisdiction to hear cases |
 
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challenging a state or local disaster order, including cases |
 
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challenging compliance with limitations on orders prescribed under |
 
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this chapter and other law, and shall expedite hearings for the |
 
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cases to the extent practicable. |
 
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             (b)    A court may invalidate or enjoin a disaster order, or |
 
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the application of a disaster order, that is not narrowly tailored |
 
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to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose because of the |
 
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order's inequality in application to or impact on groups, |
 
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situations, or circumstances. |
 
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             SECTION  2.    Section 418.012, Government Code, is amended to |
 
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read as follows: |
 
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             Sec.  418.012.    EXECUTIVE ORDERS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND |
 
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REGULATIONS. (a) Under this chapter, the governor may issue, |
 
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amend, or rescind executive orders, proclamations, and regulations |
 
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[and amend or rescind them]. |
 
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             (b)    Notwithstanding any law authorizing a state or local |
 
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official to issue an order related to a declared state of disaster |
 
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and only to the extent allowed under the United States Constitution |
 
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or Texas Constitution, only the governor may issue an order that |
 
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from the date the order is issued infringes on a protected |
 
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constitutional right in a non-trivial manner, including, but not |
 
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limited to: |
 
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                         (1)    the rights to travel, work, assemble, and speak; |
 
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                         (2)    the freedom of religious exercise; |
 
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                         (3)    the right to contract without state interference; |
 
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                         (4)    property rights; |
 
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                         (5)    the freedom from unreasonable searches and |
 
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seizures; and |
 
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                         (6)    the freedom to purchase lawfully acquired firearms |
 
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and ammunition. |
 
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             (c)    An order subject to Subsection (b) expires on the 30th |
 
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day after the date the governor issues the order unless: |
 
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                         (1)    the governor or the legislature by law terminates |
 
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the order on an earlier date; or |
 
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                         (2)    the legislature by law extends the order on or |
 
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before the expiration date. |
 
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             (d)    If the legislature is not convened in a regular or |
 
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special session, the governor may convene the legislature to |
 
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consider an order subject to Subsection (b). The members of the |
 
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legislature may remotely vote to approve, extend, or terminate the |
 
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order: |
 
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                         (1)    by an electronic method authorized under the rules |
 
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prescribed by each house of the legislature; or |
 
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                         (2)  Statutes affected: Introduced: Government Code 418.012, Government Code 418.014, Government Code 418.0155, Government Code 418.016, Government Code 418.020, Government Code 418.042, Occupations Code 51.408 (Occupations Code 51, Government Code 418)
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