HB 267

89S20379 CXP-F
		By: Reynolds
  H.B. No. 267
  A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
  AN ACT
  relating to emergency warning systems operated by municipalities
  and counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 418, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 418.1103 to read as follows:
         Sec. 418.1103.  LOCAL EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM.  (a)  In this
  section, "contact information" means an individual's telephone
  number, mobile telephone number, physical address, or e-mail
  address.
         (b)  For purposes of operating an emergency warning system
  for residents of a political subdivision, the political subdivision
  may contract with the department for the department's disclosure of
  the contact information of a political subdivision resident who
  consents to the disclosure for the purpose of participating in the
  system.
         (c)  A participant in an emergency warning system described
  by Subsection (b) may request removal from the system by submitting
  to the applicable political subdivision a written request,
  including a text message from a cellular telephone or other
  wireless communication device, for removal.  On receipt of the
  request, the applicable political subdivision shall remove the
  participant's contact information from the system and cease issuing
  emergency warnings to the former participant through the system.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.016 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.016.  VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL EMERGENCY
  WARNING SYSTEM.  (a)  In this section, "contact information" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 418.1103, Government Code.
         (b)  When a person applies for an original or renewal
  driver's license under this chapter, the person may consent to:
               (1)  participate in an emergency warning system
  described by Section 418.1103, Government Code; and
               (2)  the department's disclosure of the person's
  contact information to the municipality or county, or both, in
  which the person resides for the purpose of participating in an
  emergency warning system the municipality or county operates.
         (c)  The department shall include space on each application
  for an original or renewal driver's license that allows a person
  applying for an original or renewal driver's license to indicate
  whether the person consents to participate in an emergency warning
  system operated by the municipality or county, or both, in which the
  person resides and consents to the department's disclosure of the
  person's contact information to the municipality or county or both.
         (d)  The department shall disclose a person's contact
  information to a municipality or county for participation in an
  emergency warning system if:
               (1)  the person indicates the person's consent to
  participate in an emergency warning system and to the disclosure of
  the person's contact information under Subsection (b); and
               (2)  the applicable municipality or county:
                     (A)  operates an emergency warning system; and
                     (B)  has contracted with the department for the
  disclosure of the person's contact information under Section
  418.1103, Government Code.
         (e)  Contact information a municipality or county obtains
  under this section may not be used or disclosed for any purpose
  other than enrolling a person in an emergency warning system and
  issuing warnings to the person through the system.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.