87(R) HB 103 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
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AN ACT
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relating to establishment of the Texas Active Shooter Alert System. |
 
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             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
 
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             SECTION  1.    This Act may be cited as the "Leilah Hernandez |
 
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Act." |
 
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             SECTION  2.    Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by |
 
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adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows: |
 
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SUBCHAPTER L-1. TEXAS ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERT SYSTEM |
 
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             Sec.  411.371.    DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "alert |
 
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system" means the Texas Active Shooter Alert System established |
 
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under this subchapter. |
 
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             Sec.  411.372.    DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALERT |
 
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SYSTEM. With the cooperation of the Texas Department of |
 
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Transportation, the office of the governor, and other appropriate |
 
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law enforcement agencies in this state, the department shall |
 
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develop and implement an alert system to be activated on report of |
 
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an active shooter. |
 
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             Sec.  411.373.    ADMINISTRATION. (a) The director is the |
 
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statewide coordinator of the alert system. |
 
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             (b)    The director shall adopt rules and issue directives as |
 
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necessary to ensure proper implementation of the alert system. The |
 
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rules and directives must include instructions on the procedures |
 
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for activating and deactivating the alert system. |
 
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             (c)    The director shall prescribe forms for local law |
 
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enforcement agencies to use in requesting activation of the alert |
 
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system. |
 
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             Sec.  411.374.    DEPARTMENT TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS. (a) The |
 
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department shall recruit public and commercial television and radio |
 
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broadcasters, mobile telephone service providers by use of the |
 
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federal Wireless Emergency Alert system, private commercial |
 
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entities, state or local governmental entities, the public, and |
 
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other appropriate persons to assist in developing and implementing |
 
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the alert system. |
 
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             (b)    The department may enter into agreements with |
 
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participants in the alert system to provide necessary support for |
 
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the alert system. |
 
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             Sec.  411.375.    ACTIVATION. (a) On the request of a local law |
 
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enforcement agency or as the department determines appropriate to |
 
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assist a local law enforcement agency regarding an active shooter, |
 
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the department shall activate the alert system and notify |
 
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appropriate participants in the alert system as established by rule |
 
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if the local law enforcement agency or department: |
 
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                         (1)    believes an active shooter is in the agency's |
 
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jurisdiction; |
 
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                         (2)    determines an active shooter alert would assist |
 
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individuals near the active shooter's location; |
 
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                         (3)    verifies the active shooter situation through a |
 
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preliminary investigation; and |
 
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                         (4)    provides the active shooter's last known location |
 
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and any identifiable information for the active shooter. |
 
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             (b)    The department may modify the criteria described by |
 
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Subsection (a) as necessary for the proper implementation of the |
 
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alert system. |
 
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             Sec.  411.376.    LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. Before |
 
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requesting activation of the alert system, a local law enforcement |
 
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agency must verify that the criteria described by Section |
 
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411.375(a) have been satisfied. On verification of the applicable |
 
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criteria, the local law enforcement agency may immediately contact |
 
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the department to request activation and supply the necessary |
 
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information on forms prescribed by the director. |
 
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             Sec.  411.377.    STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency |
 
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participating in the alert system shall: |
 
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                         (1)    cooperate with the department and assist in |
 
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developing and implementing the alert system; and |
 
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                         (2)    establish a plan for providing relevant |
 
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information to its officers, investigators, or employees, as |
 
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appropriate, on activation of the alert system. |
 
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             (b)    In addition to its duties as a state agency under |
 
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Subsection (a), the Texas Department of Transportation shall |
 
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establish a plan for providing relevant information to the public |
 
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within 50 miles of an active shooter for which an alert has been |
 
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issued through an existing system of dynamic message signs located |
 
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across the state. |
 
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             Sec.  411.378.    LIMITATION ON PARTICIPATION BY TEXAS |
 
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Notwithstanding Section 411.377(b), |
 
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the Texas Department of Transportation is not required to use any |
 
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existing system of
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