86R145 SLB-F
 
  By: Metcalf H.B. No. 26
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of an alert system to notify affected
  persons of certain releases of water from certain dams.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F. DAMS
         Sec. 12.1500.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Alert system" means the Texas Dam Release Alert
  System.
               (2)  "Dam operator" means a political subdivision that
  operates a dam.
         Sec. 12.1501.  TEXAS DAM RELEASE ALERT SYSTEM. (a) With the
  cooperation of the Texas Department of Transportation, the office
  of the governor, dam operators, and other appropriate emergency
  response agencies, the commission shall implement the Texas Dam
  Release Alert System to be activated on behalf of a dam operator to
  warn potentially affected persons of possible floods.
         (b)  The alert system may be operated in conjunction with any
  other emergency alert system required by federal or state law. The
  alert system must be designed to notify potentially affected
  persons of a dam release through available means including:
               (1)  public and commercial television or radio
  broadcasts;
               (2)  a system of dynamic message signs located across
  the state; 
               (3)  posting on a website operated by a dam operator;
  and
               (4)  reverse 9-1-1 calls, text messages, e-mails,
  social media, and other instant messaging systems.
         Sec. 12.1502.  ADMINISTRATION; RULES. (a) The executive
  director is the coordinator of the alert system and shall ensure
  effective implementation of the system.
         (b)  The commission shall adopt rules to ensure effective
  implementation of the alert system. The rules must include
  instructions on the procedures for activating and deactivating the
  alert system and updating alerts made by the system.
         (c)  The executive director shall prescribe forms for use by
  dam operators in requesting activation of the alert system.
         Sec. 12.1503.  PARTICIPATION BY OTHER PERSONS. (a) The
  executive director shall recruit public and commercial television
  and radio broadcasters, private commercial entities, state or local
  governmental entities, the public, and other appropriate persons to
  assist in developing and implementing the alert system.
         (b)  The commission may enter into agreements with
  participants in the alert system to provide necessary support for
  the alert system.
         Sec. 12.1504.  ACTIONS OF DAM OPERATORS. (a) A dam operator
  must request activation of the alert system, when practicable, at
  least two hours before a release of water that the dam operator
  reasonably believes will meet the criteria described by Section
  12.1505(a).
         (b)  The dam operator must provide to the commission
  information regarding the expected duration of the release, the
  time of the release, the expected level of flooding that will
  result, the name of the dam from which the release will occur, the
  name of the affected river basin, and the county in which the dam is
  located.
         Sec. 12.1505.  ACTIVATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) On the
  request of a dam operator, the executive director shall activate
  the alert system if:
               (1)  a release of water from the dam operated by the dam
  operator is to take place;
               (2)  flooding is a reasonable result from the release
  of water; and
               (3)  flooding is likely to cause damage to life or
  property.
         (b)  The commission may modify the criteria described by
  Subsection (a) as necessary for the implementation of the alert
  system.
         Sec. 12.1506.  REQUIRED CONTENT OF ALERT MESSAGE. A
  notification issued under the alert system must include the
  following:
               (1)  the name of the dam from which the release is to
  occur;
               (2)  the county in which the dam is located;
               (3)  the affected river basin;
               (4)  the time of the release;
               (5)  the expected duration of the release;
               (6)  the potential level of flooding that will result
  downstream; and
               (7)  any roadways or bridges that will be potentially
  affected by flooding as a result of the release.
         Sec. 12.1507.  STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency
  participating in the alert system shall:
               (1)  cooperate with the commission and assist in
  developing and implementing the alert system; and
               (2)  establish a plan for providing relevant
  information to its officers, investigators, or employees, as
  appropriate, once the alert system has been activated.
         (b)  In addition to the requirements of Subsection (a), the
  Texas Department of Transportation shall establish a plan for
  providing relevant information to the public through an existing
  system of dynamic message signs located across the state.
         Sec. 12.1508.  TERMINATION. The executive director shall
  terminate an activation of the alert system when the release of
  water has been completed.
         SECTION 2.  Section 12.052, Water Code, is transferred to
  Subchapter F, Chapter 12, Water Code, as added by this Act,
  redesignated as Section 12.1509, Water Code, and amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 12.1509 [12.052].  DAM SAFETY. (a)  The commission
  shall make and enforce rules and orders and shall perform all other
  acts necessary to provide for the safe construction, maintenance,
  repair, and removal of dams located in this state.  In performing
  the commission's duties under this subsection, the commission shall
  identify and focus on the most hazardous dams in the state.
         (b)  Rules and orders made by the commission shall be made
  after proper notice and hearing as provided in the rules of the
  commission.
         (b-1)  The commission may enter into an agreement with an
  owner of a dam who is required to reevaluate the adequacy of an
  existing dam or spillway.  The agreement may include timelines to
  achieve compliance with the commission's design criteria and may
  authorize deferral of compliance with the criteria, as appropriate.
         (c)  If the owner of a dam that is required to be constructed,
  reconstructed, repaired, or removed in order to comply with the
  rules and orders promulgated under Subsection (a) of this section
  wilfully fails or refuses to comply within the 30-day period
  following the date of the commission's final, nonappealable order
  to do so or if a person wilfully fails to comply with any rule or
  other order issued by the commission under this section within the
  30-day period following the effective date of the order, he is
  liable to a penalty of not more than $5,000 a day for each day he
  continues to violate this section. The state may recover the
  penalty by suit brought for that purpose in the district court of
  Travis County.
         (d)  If the commission determines that the existing
  condition of the dam is creating or will cause extensive or severe
  property damage or economic loss to others or is posing an immediate
  and serious threat to human life or health and that other procedures
  available to the commission to remedy or prevent the occurrence of
  the situation will result in unreasonable delay, the commission may
  issue an emergency order, either mandatory or prohibitory in
  nature, directing the owner of a dam to repair, modify, maintain,
  dewater, or remove the dam which the commission determines is
  unsafe. The emergency order may be issued without notice to the dam
  owner or with notice the commission considers practicable under the
  circumstances. The notice does not have to comply with Chapter
  2001, Government Code.
         (e)  If the commission issues an emergency order under
  authority of this section without notice to the dam owner, the
  commission shall fix a time and place for a hearing which shall be
  held as soon as practicable to affirm, modify, or set aside the
  emergency order. The notice does not have to comply with Chapter
  2001, Government Code. If the nature of the commission's action
  requires further proceedings, those proceedings shall be conducted
  as appropriate under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
         (e-1)  The commission shall exempt an owner of a dam located
  on private property from meeting requirements related to dam safety
  if the dam:
               (1)  at maximum capacity impounds less than 500
  acre-feet;
               (2)  has a hazard classification of low or significant;
               (3)  is located in a county with a population of less
  than 350,000; and
               (4)  is not located inside the corporate limits of a
  municipality.
         (e-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (e-1), an owner of a dam
  shall comply with operation and maintenance requirements
  established by commission rule.
         (f)  Nothing in this section or in rules or orders made by the
  commission shall be construed to relieve an owner or operator of a
  dam or reservoir of the legal duties, obligations, or liabilities
  incident to ownership or operation.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.