85R7955 JG-D
By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 1927
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic
chemicals by a manufacturing facility.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 505.017, Health and
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 505.017. NOTICE ISSUED UNDER EMERGENCIES; TOXIC
CHEMICAL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.
SECTION 2. Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as
follows:
(c) If the responsible state agency determines that a
release will substantially endanger human health or the
environment, the agency shall, not later than 30 minutes after
making the determination, notify persons in the area in which the
facility is located of the release using the alert system
established under Subsection (d). When the agency determines a
release is no longer a threat to human health or the environment,
the agency shall notify persons using the alert system.
(d) The state emergency response commission shall develop
and maintain a toxic chemical emergency alert system to notify
persons in the area in which the facility is located of a release
that will substantially endanger human health or the environment.
The commission may partner with other state agencies in developing
the alert system and shall allow persons to register for a preferred
method of receiving a message under the alert system. In developing
the alert system, the commission may use as a model the alert
systems established by Subchapter L, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and Section 51.854, Water Code. The alert system must allow a
person the option of not receiving the alerts on the person's
notification to the commission.
(e) The toxic chemical emergency alert system must:
(1) provide notification through reverse 9-1-1 calls,
text messages, e-mails, social media, and other instant messaging
systems; and
(2) allow the state agency providing the notification
to modify the notification based on:
(A) the distance of the release to the person
receiving the notification; and
(B) the projected movement of the release.
(f) An alert issued by the toxic chemical emergency alert
system must include:
(1) each area affected by the release, including a
geographic display of the severity of the threat posed by the
release;
(2) a link to an Internet website or other message
system that maintains current information on each affected area;
(3) a link to an Internet website or other message
system that describes a symptom of any illness caused by the release
that may require emergency medical treatment;
(4) the chemicals involved in and toxicity of the
release;
(5) the projected movement of the release; and
(6) instructions for protection from exposure to the
release or for reducing exposure to the release.
(g) The state emergency response commission shall review
and modify the toxic chemical emergency alert system, as
appropriate, every four years.
SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2019, the state
emergency response commission, as defined in Section 505.004,
Health and Safety Code, shall establish the toxic chemical
emergency alert system as required by Section 505.017, Health and
Safety Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.