87R2688 SCL-D     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 958       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishment of the Texas Active Shooter Alert System.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the "Leilah Hernandez   Act."          SECTION 2.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter L-1 to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER L-1. TEXAS ACTIVE SHOOTER ALERT SYSTEM          Sec. 411.371.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "alert   system" means the Texas Active Shooter Alert System established   under this subchapter.          Sec. 411.372.  DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ALERT   SYSTEM. With the cooperation of the Texas Department of   Transportation, the office of the governor, and other appropriate   law enforcement agencies in this state, the department shall   develop and implement an alert system to be activated on report of   an active shooter.          Sec. 411.373.  ADMINISTRATION. (a) The director is the   statewide coordinator of the alert system.          (b)  The director shall adopt rules and issue directives as   necessary to ensure proper implementation of the alert system. The   rules and directives must include instructions on the procedures   for activating and deactivating the alert system.          (c)  The director shall prescribe forms for local law   enforcement agencies to use in requesting activation of the alert   system.          Sec. 411.374.  DEPARTMENT TO RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS. (a) The   department shall recruit public and commercial television and radio   broadcasters, mobile telephone service providers, private   commercial entities, state or local governmental entities, the   public, and other appropriate persons to assist in developing and   implementing the alert system.          (b)  The department may enter into agreements with   participants in the alert system to provide necessary support for   the alert system.          Sec. 411.375.  ACTIVATION. (a) On the request of a local law   enforcement agency regarding an active shooter, the department   shall activate the alert system in a 50-mile radius of the active   shooter's location and notify appropriate participants in the alert   system as established by rule if the local law enforcement agency:                (1)  believes an active shooter is in the agency's   jurisdiction;                (2)  determines an active shooter alert would assist   individuals near the active shooter's location;                (3)  verifies the active shooter situation through a   preliminary investigation; and                (4)  provides the department with the active shooter's   last known location and any identifiable information for the active   shooter.          (b)  The department may modify the criteria described by   Subsection (a) as necessary for the proper implementation of the   alert system.          Sec. 411.376.  LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. Before   requesting activation of the alert system, a local law enforcement   agency must verify that the criteria described by Section   411.375(a) have been satisfied. On verification of the applicable   criteria, the local law enforcement agency may immediately contact   the department to request activation and supply the necessary   information on forms prescribed by the director.          Sec. 411.377.  STATE AGENCIES. (a) A state agency   participating in the alert system shall:                (1)  cooperate with the department and assist in   developing and implementing the alert system; and                (2)  establish a plan for providing relevant   information to its officers, investigators, or employees, as   appropriate, on activation of the alert system.          (b)  In addition to its duties as a state agency under   Subsection (a), the Texas Department of Transportation shall   establish a plan for providing relevant information to the public   within 50 miles of an active shooter for which an alert has been   issued through an existing system of dynamic message signs located   across the state.          Sec. 411.378.  TERMINATION. The director shall terminate   any activation of the alert system for a particular active shooter   if:                (1)  the active shooter situation is resolved; or                (2)  the director determines the alert system is no   longer an effective tool for providing relevant information to the   public about the active shooter.          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the public safety director of the Department of Public   Safety of the State of Texas shall adopt rules and issue directives   necessary to implement Subchapter L-1, Chapter 411, Government   Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.