By: Landgraf H.B. No. 2891
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishment of the Texas Emergency Alert Management
System (TEAMS).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 411.004, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 411.004. DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMISSION. The
commission shall:
(1) formulate plans and policies for:
(A) enforcement of state criminal, traffic, and
safety laws;
(B) prevention of crime;
(C) detection and apprehension of persons who
violate laws; and
(D) education of citizens of this state in the
promotion of public safety and the observance of law;
(2) organize the department and supervise its
operation;
(3) adopt rules considered necessary for carrying out
the department's work;
(4) maintain records of all proceedings and official
orders; [and]
(5) biennially submit a report of its work to the
governor and legislature, including the commission's and director's
recommendations; and
(6) notwithstanding any other law, the department has
authority to manage emergency alert systems in the state.
SECTION 2. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER L-1. TEXAS EMERGENCY ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS)
Sec. 411.371. DEFINITION. In this subchapter:
(1) "alert management system" means the Texas
Emergency Alert Management System (TEAMS) established under this
subchapter.
Sec. 411.372. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEXAS
ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS). With the cooperation of the Texas
Division of Emergency Management, the Texas Department of
Transportation, the Commission on State Emergency Communications,
the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Health and Human
Services Commission, the Texas Department of State Health Services,
the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of
Texas, the State Office of Risk Management, the office of the
governor, and other appropriate agencies in this state, the
department shall identify potential threats of regional or
statewide significance and develop and implement a plan to alert
the public by use of the Federal Wireless Emergency Alert System in
the event that the director, chief of the Texas Division of
Emergency Management appointed under Section 418.041, and a state
elected official identify a need to alert Texans to an imminent
threat to public health or safety.
Sec. 411.373. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The director is the
statewide coordinator of the alert management system.
(b) The director shall adopt rules and issue directives as
necessary to ensure proper implementation of the alert management
system.
(c) The director shall prescribe forms to use in requesting
activation of an alert regarding an emergency of statewide or
regional significance.
Sec. 411.374. DEPARTMENT TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS. (a) The
department shall recruit public and commercial television and radio
broadcasters, mobile telephone service providers, private
commercial entities, state or local governmental entities, the
public, and other appropriate persons to assist in developing and
implementing the alert management system.
(b) The department may enter into agreements with
participants in the alert management system to provide necessary
support for the alert management system.
Sec. 411.375. ACTIVATION. (a) On the request of a state
elected official and a state agency official or law enforcement
agency, the department shall investigate the need to activate a
statewide or regional alert that is not otherwise authorized by
Chapter 411 or 418, Government Code and notify appropriate
participants in the alert system as established by rule if
director, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management
appointed under Section 418.041, and a state elected official
identify a need to alert Texans to an imminent statewide or regional
threat to public health or safety
Sec. 411.376. STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency
participating in the alert system shall cooperate with the
department and assist in identifying potential threats and
developing and implementing the alert management system.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the public safety director of the Department of Public
Safety of the State of Texas shall adopt rules and issue directives
necessary to implement Subchapter L-1, Chapter 411, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.