By: Landgraf H.B. No. 2892
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishment of the Texas Emergency Alert Management
  System (TEAMS).
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS EMERGENCY ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS)
         Sec. 418.270.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "alert management system" means the Texas
  Emergency Alert Management System (TEAMS) established under this
  subchapter.
               (2)  "Chief" means the chief of the Texas Division of
  Emergency Management appointed under Section 418.041.
         Sec. 418.271.  DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEXAS
  ALERT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TEAMS). (a) Notwithstanding any other
  law, the division has authority to manage all state emergency alert
  systems.
         (b)  With the cooperation of the Department of Public Safety
  of the State of Texas, the Texas Department of Transportation, the
  Commission on State Emergency Communications, the Texas Commission
  on Environmental Quality, the Health and Human Services Commission,
  the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Public Utility
  Commission of Texas, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the State
  Office of Risk Management, the office of the governor, and other
  appropriate agencies in this state, the division shall identify
  potential threats of regional or statewide significance and develop
  and implement a plan to alert the public by use of the Federal
  Wireless Emergency Alert System in the event that the chief,
  director of the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas,
  and a state elected official identify a need to alert Texans to an
  imminent threat to public health or safety.
         Sec. 418.272.  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The chief is the
  statewide coordinator of the alert management system.
         (b)  The division shall adopt rules and the chief shall issue
  directives as necessary to ensure proper implementation of the
  alert management system.
         (c)  The chief shall prescribe forms to use in requesting
  activation of an alert regarding an emergency of statewide or
  regional significance.
         Sec. 418.273.  DIVISION TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS. (a) The
  division shall recruit public and commercial television and radio
  broadcasters, mobile telephone service providers, private
  commercial entities, state or local governmental entities, the
  public, and other appropriate persons to assist in developing and
  implementing the alert management system.
         (b)  The division may enter into agreements with
  participants in the alert management system to provide necessary
  support for the alert management system.
         Sec. 418.274.  ACTIVATION. (a) On the request of a state
  elected official and a state agency official or law enforcement
  agency, the chief shall immediately investigate the need to
  activate a statewide or regional alert that is not otherwise
  authorized by Chapter 411 or 418, Government Code and notify
  appropriate participants in the alert system as established by rule
  if the chief, director of the Department of Public Safety of the
  State of Texas, and a state elected official determine there is an
  imminent threat to public health or safety.
         Sec. 418.275.  STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency
  participating in the alert system shall cooperate with the division
  and assist in identifying potential threats and developing and
  implementing the alert management system.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the public safety director of the Department of Public
  Safety of the State of Texas shall adopt rules and issue directives
  necessary to implement Subchapter L-1, Chapter 411, Government
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.