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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation and functions of the Commission on |
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State Emergency Communications. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 771.032, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 771.032. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Commission on |
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State Emergency Communications is subject to Chapter 325, |
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Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence |
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as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished and this |
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chapter expires September 1, 2023 [2011]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 771, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 771.040 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 771.040. NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE |
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DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a) The commission shall develop and |
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implement a policy to encourage the use of: |
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(1) negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter |
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2008, Government Code, for the adoption of commission rules; and |
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(2) appropriate alternative dispute resolution |
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procedures under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the |
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resolution of internal and external disputes under the commission's |
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jurisdiction. |
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(b) The commission's procedures relating to alternative |
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dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any |
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model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative |
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Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state |
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agencies. |
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(c) The commission shall: |
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(1) coordinate the implementation of the policy |
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adopted under Subsection (a); |
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(2) provide training as needed to implement the |
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procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute |
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resolution; and |
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(3) collect data concerning the effectiveness of those |
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procedures. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 771, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 771.0511 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 771.0511. EMERGENCY SERVICES INTERNET PROTOCOL |
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NETWORK; EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Advisory committee" means the Emergency |
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Communications Advisory Committee. |
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(2) "State-level emergency services Internet Protocol |
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network" means a private Internet Protocol network or Virtual |
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Private Network that: |
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(A) is used for communications between and among |
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public safety answering points and other entities that support or |
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are supported by public safety answering points in providing |
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emergency call handling and response; and |
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(B) will be a part of the Texas Next Generation |
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Emergency Communications System. |
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(b) The commission, with the assistance of an advisory |
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committee, may coordinate the development, implementation, and |
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management of an interconnected, state-level emergency services |
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Internet Protocol network. |
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(c) If the commission acts under Subsection (b), the |
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commission shall establish policy and oversee agency involvement in |
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the development and implementation of the interconnected, |
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state-level emergency services Internet Protocol network. |
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(d) If the commission acts under Subsection (b), the |
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commission shall appoint an advisory committee. The advisory |
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committee must include at least: |
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(1) one representative from a regional planning |
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commission; |
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(2) one representative from an emergency |
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communication district, as that term is defined by Section |
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771.001(3)(A); and |
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(3) one representative from an emergency |
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communication district, as that term is defined by Section |
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771.001(3)(B). |
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(e) In appointing members of an advisory committee, the |
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commission shall consult with regional planning commissions and |
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emergency communication districts throughout the state. The |
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commission shall ensure that each member of the advisory committee |
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has appropriate training, experience, and knowledge in 9-1-1 |
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systems and network management to assist in the implementation and |
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operation of a complex network. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |