87R9482 JAM-D
 
  By: Hunter H.B. No. 3808
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a statewide alert system and
  education program to improve water safety in the state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter S to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER S. JE'SANI ALERT SYSTEM FOR DANGEROUS WATER CONDITIONS
         Sec. 411.541.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Alert system" means the Je'Sani Alert System.
               (2)  "Dangerous water condition" means a condition in a
  major body of water that poses a threat to human life or safety and
  includes rip currents, rapid changes in water temperature, and
  storm surges.
         Sec. 411.542.  JE'SANI ALERT SYSTEM. (a) With the
  cooperation of the Texas Department of Transportation, the office
  of the governor, and other appropriate emergency response agencies,
  the department shall implement the Je'Sani Alert System to be
  activated to warn affected persons of a dangerous water condition.
         (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 dangerous water condition through available means
  including:
               (1)  public and commercial television or radio
  broadcasts;
               (2)  a system of dynamic message signs located across
  the state, including on signs located along highways leading to
  major bodies of water;
               (3)  posting on an Internet website operated by a
  municipality, county, or state agency; and
               (4)  reverse 9-1-1 calls, text messages, e-mails,
  social media, and other instant messaging systems.
         Sec. 411.543.  ADMINISTRATION; RULES. (a) The director is
  the statewide coordinator of the alert system and shall ensure
  effective implementation of the system.
         (b)  The director 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.
         Sec. 411.544.  PARTICIPATION BY OTHER PERSONS. (a) The
  department 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 department may enter into agreements with
  participants in the alert system to provide necessary support for
  the alert system.
         Sec. 411.545.  ACTIVATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) The
  department shall activate the alert system when the department
  becomes aware of a dangerous water condition.
         (b)  In issuing the alert, the department shall send the
  alert to designated media outlets in this state.  Following receipt
  of the alert, participating radio stations and television stations
  and other participating media outlets may issue the alert at
  designated intervals to assist in alerting the public to a
  dangerous water condition.
         (c)  The department shall also send the alert to:
               (1)  any appropriate law enforcement agency; and
               (2)  the Texas Department of Transportation.
         (d)  The director may promulgate additional criteria under
  Subsection (a) as necessary for the implementation of the alert
  system.
         Sec. 411.546.  CONTENT OF ALERT. A notification issued
  under the alert system must include the following:
               (1)  the name of the body of water in which the
  dangerous water condition is to occur;
               (2)  the nature of the dangerous water condition;
               (3)  the county in which the body of water, or the
  affected portion of the body of water, is located; and
               (4)  the expected duration of the dangerous water
  condition.
         Sec. 411.547.  STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency
  participating in the alert system shall:
               (1)  cooperate with the department and assist in
  developing and implementing the alert system; and
               (2)  establish a plan for providing relevant
  information to its officers 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. 411.548.  LIMITATION ON PARTICIPATION BY TEXAS
  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. Notwithstanding Section 411.457(b),
  the Texas Department of Transportation is not required to use any
  existing system of dynamic message signs in a program created under
  this subchapter if that department receives notice from the United
  States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
  that the use of the signs would result in the loss of federal
  highway funding or other punitive actions taken against this state
  due to noncompliance with federal laws, regulations, or policies.
         Sec. 411.549.  TERMINATION. The director shall terminate an
  activation of the alert system when the dangerous water condition
  has passed.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 201, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 201.623 to read as follows:
         Sec. 201.623.  KNOW THE FLAGS PROGRAM. (a) The department
  by rule shall establish a program that promotes beach safety by:
               (1)  educating residents of this state about dangerous
  conditions that may exist at beaches in this state, including rip
  currents;
               (2)  informing residents of this state of precautions
  that may help avoid encountering the dangerous conditions described
  by Subdivision (1), including information about the system of flags
  on public beaches that warn of dangerous tides and water
  conditions; and
               (3)  disseminating the information described by this
  section through:
                     (A)  public and commercial television or radio
  broadcasts;
                     (B)  a system of dynamic message signs located
  across the state, including on signs located along highways leading
  to major bodies of water; and
                     (C)  posting on an Internet website operated by a
  governmental entity.
         (b)  A local government may work with the department to
  participate in the program.
         (c)  The department shall post a sign that complies with
  program requirements at a major highway leading to a public beach at
  the time a previously posted sign identifying the crossing or
  prohibiting dumping at the crossing is scheduled to be replaced.
         (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(3)(B), the department is
  not required to use any existing system of dynamic message signs in
  a program created under this section if the department receives
  notice from the United States Department of Transportation Federal
  Highway Administration that the use of the signs would result in the
  loss of federal highway funding or other punitive actions taken
  against this state due to noncompliance with federal laws,
  regulations, or policies.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.