hb1128.html

06 LC 34 0508

House Bill 1128

By: Representatives Drenner of the 86th, Benfield of the 85th, Henson of the 87th, Loudermilk of the 14th, Chambers of the 81st, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to organization and administration of emergency management, so as to require the Georgia Emergency Management Agency to establish a state-wide planning and mapping system for the public buildings in this state to the extent money is available for such a system; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to organization and administration of emergency management, is amended by adding a new Code section 38-3-22.3, immediately following Code section 38-3-22.2, relating to the Airport Anti-terrorism Training Committee, to read as follows:

"38-3-22.3.

(a) To the extent funds are made available, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency shall establish a state-wide planning and mapping system for the public buildings in this state for use by response agencies that are called to respond to an act of terrorism or related emergency.

(b) The state-wide planning and mapping system shall include, without limitation:

(1) The type of information that must be included within the software program that comprises the system, including floor plans, fire protection information, building evacuation plans, utility information, known hazards, and information on how to contact emergency personnel;

(2) The manner by which the information prescribed pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection must be transferred to the system from the state agencies and the political subdivisions that participate in the system;

(3) Standards for the software that must be used by the state agencies and political subdivisions that participate in the system;

(4) Conditions for use of the system by response agencies;

(5) Guidelines for the accessibility and confidentiality of information contained within the system;

(6) In accordance with information obtained by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, a determination of the priority for distribution of any funds that may be available for the state agencies and political subdivisions to participate in the system; and

(7) Guidelines recommended by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency for the training of persons employed by response agencies concerning the use of the system.

(1) Participate in the state-wide planning and mapping system; and

(2) Incorporate into their use of the system, without limitation:

(A) Evacuation routes and strategies for evacuation;

(B) Alarms and other signals or means of notification;

(D) Training and strategies for prevention in connection with attacks involving violence.

(d) If a state agency or a political subdivision uses its own planning and mapping system before the Georgia Emergency Management Agency establishes a state-wide planning and mapping system, the state agency or political subdivision may continue to use its system unless funds are made available for the state agency or political subdivision to update or modify its system as necessary for inclusion in the state-wide system.

(e) The Georgia Emergency Management Agency:

(1) Shall pursue any funds that may be available from the federal government for the development and operation of a state-wide planning and mapping system for public buildings and for the distribution of grants to the state agencies and political subdivisions that participate in the system; and

(2) May accept gifts, grants, and contributions for the development and operation of a state-wide planning and mapping system and for the distribution of grants to the state agencies and political subdivisions that participate in the system.

(f) Each state agency and political subdivision that participates in the system shall, on or before July 1, 2007, and on or before July 1 of each year thereafter, submit to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency a progress report setting forth, in accordance with regulations adopted by Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the experience of the agency or political subdivision with respect to its participation in the system. The Georgia Emergency Management Agency shall receive and process such progress reports and provide to the General Assembly a summarized overview of the system on or before October 1, 2007, and on or before October 1 of each year thereafter.

(g) After the state-wide mapping system is established pursuant to this Code section, each state agency and political subdivision that participates in the system shall submit to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency any initial or final plan for a public work."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2006.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.