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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to mandatory emergency alert systems at institutions of |
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higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.218 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.218. EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. (a) In this section, |
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"institution of higher education" and "private or independent |
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institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education and private or |
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independent institution of higher education shall establish an |
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emergency alert system for the institution's students and staff, |
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including faculty. The emergency alert system must use e-mail or |
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telephone notifications in addition to any other alert method the |
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institution considers appropriate to provide timely notification |
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of emergencies affecting the institution or its students and staff. |
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(c) At the time a student initially enrolls or a staff |
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member begins employment, the institution shall: |
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(1) obtain a personal telephone number or e-mail |
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address from the student or staff member; and |
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(2) register the student or staff member in the |
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institution's emergency alert system. |
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(d) A student or staff member may elect not to participate |
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in an emergency alert system established under this section. An |
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election under this subsection must be: |
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(1) in writing on a form developed by the institution; |
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(2) signed by the student or staff member; and |
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(3) renewed at the start of each academic year. |
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(e) The information provided by a student or staff member to |
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an institution of higher education under this section is |
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confidential and not subject to disclosure under Section 552.021, |
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Government Code. |
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(f) Each institution of higher education and private or |
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independent institution of higher education shall implement the |
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emergency alert system required by this section not later than the |
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spring 2012 semester. This subsection expires June 1, 2012. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |