By: Landgraf H.B. No. 2892
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. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS EMERGENCY ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS)
Sec. 418.270. DEFINITION. In this subchapter:
(1) "alert management system" means the Texas
Emergency Alert Management System (TEAMS) established under this
subchapter.
(2) "Chief" means the chief of the Texas Division of
Emergency Management appointed under Section 418.041.
Sec. 418.271. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEXAS
ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS). (a) Notwithstanding any other
law, the division has authority to manage all state emergency alert
systems.
(b) With the cooperation of the Department of Public Safety
of the State of Texas, 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 division 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 chief,
director of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas,
and a state elected official identify a need to alert Texans to an
imminent threat to public health or safety.
Sec. 418.272. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The chief is the
statewide coordinator of the alert management system.
(b) The division shall adopt rules and the chief shall issue
directives as necessary to ensure proper implementation of the
alert management system.
(c) The chief shall prescribe forms to use in requesting
activation of an alert regarding an emergency of statewide or
regional significance.
Sec. 418.273. DIVISION TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS. (a) The
division 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 division may enter into agreements with
participants in the alert management system to provide necessary
support for the alert management system.
Sec. 418.274. ACTIVATION. (a) On the request of a state
elected official and a state agency official or law enforcement
agency, the chief shall immediately 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 the chief, director of the Department of Public Safety of the
State of Texas, and a state elected official determine there is an
imminent threat to public health or safety.
Sec. 418.275. STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency
participating in the alert system shall cooperate with the division
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.