| 1 | 1 | | 84R14434 SCL-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia S.B. No. 1787 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic |
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| 8 | 8 | | chemicals by a manufacturing facility. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 505, Health and Safety |
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| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 505. MANUFACTURING FACILITY COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW ACT; |
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| 13 | 13 | | EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION ACT |
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| 14 | 14 | | SECTION 2. Section 505.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 15 | 15 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 16 | 16 | | Sec. 505.001. SHORT TITLE. This chapter may be cited as the |
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| 17 | 17 | | Manufacturing Facility Community Right-To-Know Act and Emergency |
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| 18 | 18 | | Notification Act. |
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| 19 | 19 | | SECTION 3. The heading to Section 505.017, Health and |
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| 20 | 20 | | Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 21 | 21 | | Sec. 505.017. NOTICE ISSUED UNDER EMERGENCIES; ALERT |
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| 22 | 22 | | SYSTEM. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 4. Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, is |
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| 24 | 24 | | amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (c) If the responsible state agency determines that a |
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| 26 | 26 | | release will substantially endanger human health, the agency shall |
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| 27 | 27 | | immediately notify persons in the area in which the facility is |
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| 28 | 28 | | located of the release using the alert system established under |
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| 29 | 29 | | Subsection (d). |
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| 30 | 30 | | (d) The state emergency response commission shall develop |
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| 31 | 31 | | and maintain an alert system to notify persons in the area in which |
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| 32 | 32 | | the facility is located of a release that will substantially |
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| 33 | 33 | | endanger human health. The notification must be provided through |
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| 34 | 34 | | reverse 9-1-1 calls, text messages, e-mails, social media, and |
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| 35 | 35 | | other instant messaging systems. The commission may partner with |
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| 36 | 36 | | other state agencies in developing the alert system and shall allow |
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| 37 | 37 | | persons to register for a preferred method of receiving a message |
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| 38 | 38 | | under the alert system. An alert issued by the system must include: |
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| 39 | 39 | | (1) each area affected by the release; |
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| 40 | 40 | | (2) a link to an Internet website or other message |
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| 41 | 41 | | system that has updated information on each affected area; |
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| 42 | 42 | | (3) the chemicals involved in and toxicity of the |
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| 43 | 43 | | release; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (4) the projected movement of the release; and |
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| 45 | 45 | | (5) instructions for protection from exposure to the |
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| 46 | 46 | | release. |
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| 47 | 47 | | SECTION 5. Not later than September 1, 2016, the state |
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| 48 | 48 | | emergency response commission shall establish the alert system as |
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| 49 | 49 | | required by Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, as amended by |
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| 50 | 50 | | this Act. |
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| 51 | 51 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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