| 1 | 1 | | 88R2636 SRA-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.B. No. 588 |
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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 a statewide disaster alert system. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by |
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| 10 | 10 | | adding Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SUBCHAPTER L. STATEWIDE DISASTER ALERT SYSTEM |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 418.451. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "alert |
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| 13 | 13 | | system" means the statewide disaster alert system developed and |
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| 14 | 14 | | implemented under this subchapter. |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 418.452. ESTABLISHMENT OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) With the |
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| 16 | 16 | | cooperation of the office of the governor and appropriate state |
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| 17 | 17 | | agencies, the division shall develop and implement a statewide |
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| 18 | 18 | | alert system to activate in the event of a disaster affecting any |
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| 19 | 19 | | location in this state. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (b) The alert system may be operated in conjunction with any |
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| 21 | 21 | | other emergency alert system required by federal or state law. The |
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| 22 | 22 | | alert system must notify persons statewide of a disaster affecting |
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| 23 | 23 | | any location in this state. The notification must be provided |
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| 24 | 24 | | through: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) public and commercial television or radio |
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| 26 | 26 | | broadcasts; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) a system of dynamic message signs located across |
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| 28 | 28 | | this state; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | (3) reverse 9-1-1 telephone calls, text messages, |
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| 30 | 30 | | e-mails, social media, and other instant messaging systems. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (c) The division shall allow persons to register for a |
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| 32 | 32 | | preferred method of receiving the notification described by |
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| 33 | 33 | | Subsection (b)(3). |
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| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 418.453. ACTIVATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) When the |
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| 35 | 35 | | division determines that a disaster has occurred or that the |
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| 36 | 36 | | occurrence or threat of disaster is imminent or is notified of a |
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| 37 | 37 | | declaration of disaster under this chapter, the division shall |
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| 38 | 38 | | immediately activate the alert system. |
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| 39 | 39 | | (b) The division shall issue updated notifications for the |
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| 40 | 40 | | duration of the disaster. |
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| 41 | 41 | | Sec. 418.454. CONTENT OF ALERT SYSTEM NOTIFICATION. (a) A |
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| 42 | 42 | | notification issued under the alert system must include all |
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| 43 | 43 | | information necessary to: |
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| 44 | 44 | | (1) assist a person affected by the disaster with |
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| 45 | 45 | | making informed decisions regarding the person's safety; and |
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| 46 | 46 | | (2) enable a person in another location in this state |
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| 47 | 47 | | to assist an affected person. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (b) The notification must include: |
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| 49 | 49 | | (1) real-time information regarding the availability |
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| 50 | 50 | | of gas, food, lodging, 24-hour pharmacy services, and medical care |
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| 51 | 51 | | and the disposition of a deceased individual; |
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| 52 | 52 | | (2) for a hurricane, the category classification of |
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| 53 | 53 | | the hurricane, including updated information on changes in the |
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| 54 | 54 | | category classification, the expected time and location of |
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| 55 | 55 | | landfall, and other detailed information; and |
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| 56 | 56 | | (3) other information the division determines |
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| 57 | 57 | | appropriate. |
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| 58 | 58 | | Sec. 418.455. TERMINATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. The division |
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| 59 | 59 | | shall terminate the activation of the alert system when: |
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| 60 | 60 | | (1) the division determines that: |
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| 61 | 61 | | (A) the threat or danger has passed; or |
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| 62 | 62 | | (B) the disaster has been addressed to the extent |
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| 63 | 63 | | that emergency conditions no longer exist; or |
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| 64 | 64 | | (2) the state of disaster is terminated as provided by |
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| 65 | 65 | | this chapter. |
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| 66 | 66 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 67 | 67 | | of this Act, the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall |
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| 68 | 68 | | implement Subchapter L, Chapter 418, Government Code, as added by |
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| 69 | 69 | | this Act. |
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| 70 | 70 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 71 | 71 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 72 | 72 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 73 | 73 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 74 | 74 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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