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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a local area activation of the alert system for certain |
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missing children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.3555 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.3555. LOCAL AREA ACTIVATION FOR CERTAIN MISSING |
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CHILDREN. On the request of a local law enforcement agency that |
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knows a child is missing but has not verified the criteria described |
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by Section 411.355(a), and if the chief law enforcement officer of |
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the local law enforcement agency believes that activation of the |
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alert system is warranted, the department shall: |
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(1) activate the alert system only in the following |
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areas: |
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(A) within a 100-mile radius of the location from |
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which the child is believed to have gone missing or the location in |
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which the child was last seen, as applicable; and |
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(B) in all counties adjacent to the county from |
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which the child is believed to have gone missing or the county in |
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which the child was last seen, as applicable; and |
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(2) notify appropriate participants in the alert |
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system, as established by rule. |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.356, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.356. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. Before |
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requesting activation of the alert system, a local law enforcement |
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agency must verify that the criteria described by Section |
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411.355(a) or (b) or 411.3555, as applicable, have been |
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satisfied. On verification of the applicable criteria, the local |
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law enforcement agency shall immediately contact the department to |
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request activation and shall supply the necessary information on |
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the forms prescribed by the director. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2023. |