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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an alert system for notification of the release of toxic |
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chemicals by a manufacturing facility. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 505.017, Health and |
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Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 505.017. NOTICE ISSUED UNDER EMERGENCIES; TOXIC |
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CHEMICAL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. |
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SECTION 2. Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) to read as |
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follows: |
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(c) If the responsible state agency determines that a |
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release will substantially endanger human health or the |
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environment, the agency shall, not later than 30 minutes after |
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making the determination, notify persons in the area in which the |
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facility is located of the release using the alert system |
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established under Subsection (d). When the agency determines a |
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release is no longer a threat to human health or the environment, |
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the agency shall notify persons using the alert system. |
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(d) The state emergency response commission shall develop |
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and maintain a toxic chemical emergency alert system to notify |
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persons in the area in which the facility is located of a release |
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that will substantially endanger human health or the environment. |
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The commission may partner with other state agencies in developing |
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the alert system and shall allow persons to register for a preferred |
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method of receiving a message under the alert system. In developing |
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the alert system, the commission may use as a model the alert |
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systems established by Subchapter L, Chapter 411, Government Code, |
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and Section 51.854, Water Code. The alert system must provide a |
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person with the option of not receiving the alerts. |
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(e) The toxic chemical emergency alert system must: |
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(1) provide notification through reverse 9-1-1 calls, |
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text messages, e-mails, social media, and other instant messaging |
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systems in both English and Spanish; and |
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(2) allow the state agency providing the notification |
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to modify the notification based on: |
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(A) the distance of the release to the person |
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receiving the notification; and |
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(B) the projected movement of the release. |
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(f) An alert issued by the toxic chemical emergency alert |
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system must include: |
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(1) each area affected by the release, including a |
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geographic display of the severity of the threat posed by the |
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release; |
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(2) a link to an Internet website or other message |
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system that maintains current information on each affected area; |
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(3) a link to an Internet website or other message |
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system that describes a symptom of any illness caused by the release |
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that may require emergency medical treatment; |
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(4) the chemicals involved in and toxicity of the |
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release; |
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(5) the projected movement of the release; and |
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(6) instructions for protection from exposure to the |
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release or for reducing exposure to the release. |
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(g) The state emergency response commission shall review |
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and modify the toxic chemical emergency alert system, as |
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appropriate, every four years. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2027, the state |
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emergency response commission, as defined by Section 505.004, |
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Health and Safety Code, shall establish the toxic chemical |
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emergency alert system as required by Section 505.017, Health and |
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Safety Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |