By: Lopez of Bexar H.B. No. 257       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 disclosure by the department   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   a written request, including a text message from a cellular   telephone or other wireless communication device, for removal to   the applicable political subdivision.  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.          (d)  A participant in an emergency warning system described   by Subsection (b) may elect to receive warning alerts in both   English and Spanish.          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 disclosure by the department 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 operated by the municipality or county.          (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 disclosure by the department 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 obtained by a municipality or   county 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.