Georgia SB 264: University System; noncitizen students with certain refugee, special immigrant, or humanitarian parolee status under federal law are classified as in-state for tuition purposes; provide

Bill Text

25 LC 56 0360S
The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to SB 264:
MOOT
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1
emergency management, so as to provide for the creation of the Georgia Resilience Office2
under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; to provide for3
a board of directors; to provide for the purpose, membership, and duties of such board; to4
provide for reports; to provide for the hiring of staff; to provide for compensation and5
funding; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title;6
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency10
management, is amended by adding a new article to read as follows:11
"ARTICLE 1312
38-3-200.13
This article shall be known and may be cited as the 'Georgia Resilience Act.'14
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38-3-201.15
As used in this article, the term:16
(1) 'Board of directors' or 'board' means the governing body of the office.17
(2) 'Critical infrastructure' means publicly or privately owned facilities, systems,18
functions, or assets, whether physical or virtual, providing or distributing services for the19
benefit of the public, including, but not limited to, energy, fuel, water, agriculture,20
healthcare, finance, communication, or any other vital public service.21
(3) 'Office' means the Georgia Resilience Office established pursuant to Code22
Section 38-3-202.23
38-3-202.24
(a) There is established the Georgia Resilience Office. The office shall be an entity within25
the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and attached to such26
agency for all operational purposes.27
(b) The primary purpose of the office shall be to plan for and coordinate state-wide28
resilience and disaster recovery efforts, including coordination with federal, state, and local29
governmental agencies, stakeholders, and nongovernmental entities. Responsibilities shall30
include, but are not limited to, the following:31
(1) To establish mechanisms to coordinate, integrate, and expand disaster recovery,32
hazard mitigation, and resilience related programs and activities among state agencies and33
to encourage intergovernmental as well as cross-sector coordination and collaboration;34
(2) To develop, implement, and maintain a state-wide resilience plan as a framework to35
guide state investments in disaster mitigation projects and the adoption of programs and36
policies to protect the people and property of Georgia from the damage and destruction37
of extreme weather events. The state-wide resilience plan shall be reviewed and revised38
by December 31 in even-numbered years to ensure that it continues to serve the health,39
safety, and welfare of the citizens of Georgia. The first version of the resilience plan40
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shall be completed by December 31, 2026, and shall, at minimum, include provisions41
that:42
(A) Describe known risks in each of the regional commissions established in Code43
Section 50-8-32 and examine present and potential losses associated with the44
occurrence of disaster events in this state and land management practices that potentiate45
extreme weather events, resulting in increased flooding, wildfire, drought, and extreme46
heat conditions. The risk assessment shall use best available scientific data to consider47
present and potential state-wide impacts across a wide spectrum of hazards;48
(B) Assess the vulnerability of infrastructure systems including transportation and49
energy distribution systems and critical infrastructure at the state and municipal levels,50
including, but not limited to, hospitals, schools, fire stations, comparable facilities, and51
historical and cultural resources;52
(C) Identify data and information gaps that affect the capacity of state agencies or local53
governments to adequately evaluate and address the factors that increase disaster risk,54
and recommend strategies to overcome such gaps;55
(D) Develop a prioritized list of specific policies, programs, and resilience actions to56
decrease vulnerabilities and adverse impacts associated with extreme weather and57
disasters. Descriptions of proposed resilience actions shall include intended benefits,58
potential costs, and an anticipated timeline for implementation. In developing these59
actions, the office shall, at a minimum, consider:60
(i) Economic impacts attributed to current and best available projections of future61
risk from extreme weather events in this state, including, but not limited to, impacts62
on forestry, agriculture, water and other natural resources, food systems, housing63
stock, economic activity, wildlife, critical infrastructure, economic development64
potential and security, educatio