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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development and implementation of outdoor warning |
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siren activation protocol, including the establishment of an |
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advisory committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 418.196 and 418.197 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.196. OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN ACTIVATION PROTOCOL. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Outdoor warning siren" means a device that |
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produces a sound designed to alert members of the public who are |
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outdoors of an imminent disaster and encourage those members to |
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immediately seek shelter. |
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(2) "Political subdivision" means a municipality, a |
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county, a special purpose district or authority, or any other |
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political subdivision of this state. |
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(b) The division by rule shall develop an outdoor warning |
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siren activation protocol to establish uniform criteria throughout |
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this state for the activation of outdoor warning sirens by |
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political subdivisions that operate outdoor warning sirens. |
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(c) The protocol must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) criteria and thresholds for the voluntary or |
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mandatory activation of the outdoor warning sirens in emergency |
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circumstances, including in the event of: |
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(i) a warning issued by the National |
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Weather Service, such as a flash flood, wildfire, or tornado |
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warning; and |
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(ii) a declaration of local disaster issued |
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under Section 418.108 involving an immediate threat to public |
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safety, such as a shelter-in-place order or hazardous material |
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incident; and |
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(B) guidance on the integration of the outdoor |
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warning sirens with other public alert systems, such as the |
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integrated public alert system operated by the Federal Emergency |
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Management Agency; and |
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(2) accommodate regional differences in this state |
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while maintaining consistency in emergency activation criteria and |
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thresholds. |
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(d) The protocol may not regulate: |
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(1) testing schedules for the outdoor warning sirens; |
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(2) maintenance of the outdoor warning sirens; or |
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(3) minimum geographic coverage of the outdoor warning |
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sirens. |
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(e) The division shall: |
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(1) publish the outdoor warning siren activation |
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protocol on its publicly available Internet website; and |
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(2) provide notice to political subdivisions that |
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operate outdoor warning sirens of any update to the protocol. |
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(f) A political subdivision operating outdoor warning |
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sirens shall adopt and implement the outdoor warning siren |
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activation protocol, as applicable. |
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Sec. 418.197. OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN ACTIVATION PROTOCOL |
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ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The division shall establish an outdoor |
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warning siren activation protocol advisory committee to provide |
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guidance on the development and implementation of the outdoor |
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warning siren activation protocol. |
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(b) The committee is composed of the following members: |
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(1) a division designee, to serve as committee chair; |
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(2) one emergency management director or coordinator |
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as designated under Section 418.1015 from each field response |
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region of this state, as designated by the division, that operates |
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outdoor warning sirens; |
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(3) a representative from the Emergency Management |
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Association of Texas; and |
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(4) as available, a representative from the National |
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Weather Service. |
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(c) The committee shall: |
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(1) provide technical guidance to the division on the |
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operation of outdoor warning sirens in this state; |
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(2) provide insight on the regional, including |
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geographical, differences in this state for purposes of operating |
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outdoor warning sirens; and |
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(3) conduct an annual statewide survey of existing |
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practices of political subdivisions in this state that operate |
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outdoor warning sirens. |
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(d) The committee shall annually submit a report to the |
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division containing a summary of recommendations based on the |
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information collected under Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than March 15, 2026, the Texas |
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Division of Emergency Management by rule shall develop and publish |
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the outdoor warning siren activation protocol, as required by |
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Section 418.196, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2026, each political |
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subdivision of this state that operates outdoor warning sirens |
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shall adopt the outdoor warning siren activation protocol as |
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required by Section 418.196, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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(c) The outdoor warning siren activation protocol advisory |
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committee, established under Section 418.197, Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, shall: |
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(1) not later than January 15, 2026, complete the |
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initial statewide survey of political subdivisions operating |
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outdoor warning sirens; and |
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(2) not later than February 1, 2026, submit |
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recommendations regarding the outdoor warning siren activation |
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protocol to the Texas Division of Emergency Management. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |