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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to flood safety and disaster preparedness. |
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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 Section 418.193 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.193. OUTDOOR WARNING SIRENS REQUIRED IN FLOOD-RISK |
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ZONES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Flood-risk zone" means an area along a river |
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impacted by a flooding event at least once in the preceding 100 |
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years. |
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(2) "Outdoor warning siren" means a system that |
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produces a sound designed to alert a person who is outdoors of an |
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imminent flooding event and encourage the person to immediately |
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seek shelter. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (e), for each |
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flood-risk zone, the division shall require the appropriate |
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municipality or county to install, maintain, and operate outdoor |
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warning sirens at two-mile intervals near the river in the area |
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classified as a flood-risk zone in accordance with division rules |
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adopted under this section. |
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(c) Each outdoor warning siren must be equipped with: |
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(1) a water-level sensor; and |
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(2) a solar-powered backup energy source. |
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(d) If the site of an outdoor warning siren installation is |
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within: |
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(1) the boundaries of a municipality, the municipality |
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shall install, maintain, and operate the siren; or |
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(2) the unincorporated area of a county, the county |
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shall install, maintain, and operate the siren. |
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(e) The division may not require a local government entity |
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that maintains and operates in a flood-risk zone an outdoor warning |
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siren compliant with the minimum standards adopted by division rule |
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to install, maintain, and operate an additional outdoor warning |
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siren. |
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(f) Municipalities, counties, and other local government |
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entities may by written agreement jointly install, maintain, or |
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operate an outdoor warning siren in a flood-risk zone. |
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(g) The division shall require each county or municipality |
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with an outdoor warning siren required under this section or any |
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other local government entity with an outdoor warning siren in a |
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flood-risk zone to regularly test the functionality of the outdoor |
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warning siren and document the results of those tests. |
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(h) The division shall adopt rules and procedures to |
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implement this section, including: |
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(1) procedures for the operation of an outdoor warning |
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siren in a flood-risk zone; and |
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(2) minimum standards for an outdoor warning siren |
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installed, maintained, or operated in a flood-risk zone. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter L to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER L. STATEWIDE NATURAL DISASTER ALERT SYSTEM |
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Sec. 418.401. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Alert system" means the statewide natural |
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disaster alert system described by this subchapter. |
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(2) "Natural disaster" means the occurrence or |
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imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of |
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life or property resulting from any natural cause, including fire, |
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flood, earthquake, hurricane, wind, storm, wave action, volcanic |
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activity, blight, drought, infestation, extreme heat, or other |
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natural public calamity requiring emergency action. |
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Sec. 418.402. ESTABLISHMENT OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) The |
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division, with the cooperation of the office of the governor and |
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other agencies as necessary, shall develop and implement a |
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statewide natural disaster alert system to activate in the event of |
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a natural disaster affecting any location in this state. |
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(b) A local government entity that chooses to implement an |
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alert system under this subchapter may use available local money |
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for the purpose of participating in the alert system and may |
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contract with the department for services associated with the alert |
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system. |
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(c) The alert system must be: |
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(1) operated in conjunction with any other emergency |
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alert system required by federal or state law; and |
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(2) designed to notify persons statewide of a natural |
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disaster affecting any location in this state using an alert tone |
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distinct from other statewide alert systems. |
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Sec. 418.403. ACTIVATION OF ALERT SYSTEM. (a) When the |
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division determines a natural disaster has occurred or the |
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occurrence or threat of natural disaster is imminent or is notified |
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of a declaration of disaster under this chapter involving a natural |
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disaster, the division may immediately activate the alert system. |
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A local government entity in coordination with the division may |
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choose the manner in which the alert system is activated and |
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notifications are issued in the entity's geographic region. |
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(b) The division may activate the alert system only within a |
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100-mile radius of an area in which the division: |
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(1) determines: |
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(A) a natural disaster has occurred; or |
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(B) the occurrence or threat of natural disaster |
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is imminent; or |
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(2) is notified of a declaration of disaster under |
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this chapter involving a natural disaster. |
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(c) The division, or local government entity, as |
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appropriate, may issue updated notifications for the duration of |
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the natural disaster. |
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Sec. 418.404. ALERT SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. The alert system |
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must use geographic targeting technology to identify and send |
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alerts to individuals residing within a 100-mile radius of the area |
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identified under Section 418.403(b) and may not allow the |
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individuals to opt out of notification through the alert system. |
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Sec. 418.405. RULES. The division shall adopt rules |
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necessary to implement this subchapter. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 141, Health and Safety Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 141.0093 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.0093. FLOOD SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. The youth camp |
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operator of a youth camp located within one mile of a river or lake |
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that is at risk of flooding must equip: |
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(1) each cabin with a radio to allow communication |
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during an emergency; and |
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(2) each bed with a flotation device sufficient to |
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keep a camper afloat in the event of a flooding emergency. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |