HB 48

By: Darby, Lalani, Zwiener, et al.
  H.B. No. 48
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a working group to study alert
  notification systems.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:
               (1)  "Department" means the Department of Public Safety
  of the State of Texas.
               (2)  "Division" means the Texas Division of Emergency
  Management.
               (3)  "Working group" means the alert notification
  system working group established by this Act.
         SECTION 2.  CREATION OF WORKING GROUP; COMPOSITION.  (a)  The
  alert notification system working group is established.
         (b)  The working group is composed of nine members appointed
  not later than December 31, 2025, by the chief of the division.
         SECTION 3.  DUTIES OF WORKING GROUP.  (a)  The working group
  shall study the statewide alert notification systems used to notify
  state residents of certain events, including the alert notification
  systems established by the department under Subchapters K-1, L,
  L-1, M, P, and Q, Chapter 411, Government Code, and any alert
  notification systems, and available data in the State of Texas
  Emergency Assistance Registry, operated by the division.
         (b)  The working group shall hold hearings and other work
  sessions to conduct the study required by Subsection (a) of this
  section.  The study must include an evaluation of state and federal
  regulations regarding alert notification systems used by the
  department and the division and legislative recommendations to
  address the effects of notification fatigue on the effective
  operation of those systems and streamline the operation of those
  systems.
         (b-1)  The study required by Subsection (a) of this section
  must also include an evaluation of the effective operation of the
  alert notification systems described by Subsection (a) of this
  section with respect to certain populations, including persons who
  are hard of hearing, persons with chronic illness, and senior
  citizens. As needed, the working group may include legislative
  recommendations in the study on improving the effective operation
  of the alert notification systems for those populations.
         (c)  The working group may consult with the Federal Emergency
  Management Agency and any other federal or state agency for the
  purpose of collecting information necessary to conduct the study
  required by this section.
         SECTION 4.  REPORT AND LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS.  (a)
  Not later than December 1, 2026, the working group shall submit to
  the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, and each other member of the legislature a report
  on the findings of the study required by this Act.
         (b)  The report must include recommendations for legislation
  to address the findings of the study.
         SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION.  The working group is abolished and
  this Act expires January 1, 2027.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect on the
  91st day after the last day of the legislative session.