89S20341 KRM-D     By: Morales of Harris H.B. No. 179       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to an alert system for notification of a toxic chemical   release by a manufacturing facility.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 505.017, Health and   Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 505.017.  NOTICE ISSUED UNDER EMERGENCIES; TOXIC   CHEMICAL EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.          SECTION 2.  Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, is   amended by adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i)   to read as follows:          (c)  If the responsible state agency determines that a   release will substantially endanger human health or the   environment, not later than 30 minutes after making the   determination the agency shall notify persons in the area in which   the facility is located of the release using the alert system   established under Subsection (f).          (d)  On the request of the Texas Division of Emergency   Management, the Department of Public Safety shall notify persons in   the area in which a facility is located of the release using the   alert system established under Subsection (f) if:                (1)  the division determined the release will   substantially endanger human health or the environment; and                (2)  a responsible state agency has not issued an alert   under Subsection (c) notifying persons in the area of the release.          (e)  A state agency that issues an alert under Subsection (c)   or (d) and determines a release is no longer a threat to human   health or the environment shall provide notice of the diminished   threat to persons in the area of the release using the alert system   established under Subsection (f).          (f)  The state emergency response commission shall develop   and maintain a toxic chemical emergency alert system to notify   persons in the area in which the facility is located of a release   that will substantially endanger human health or the environment.   The commission may partner with other state agencies in developing   the alert system and shall allow persons to register for a preferred   method of receiving a message under the alert system. In developing   the alert system, the commission may use as a model the alert   systems established by Subchapter L, Chapter 411, Government Code,   and Section 51.854, Water Code.  The alert system must provide a   person with the option of not receiving the alerts.          (g)  The toxic chemical emergency alert system must:                (1)  provide notification through reverse 9-1-1 calls,   text messages, e-mails, social media, and other instant messaging   systems in both English and Spanish; and                (2)  allow the state agency providing the notification   to modify the notification based on:                      (A)  the distance of the release to the person   receiving the notification; and                      (B)  the projected movement of the release.          (h)  An alert issued by the toxic chemical emergency alert   system must include:                (1)  each area affected by the release, including the   projected movement of the release and a geographic display of the   severity of the threat posed by the release;                (2)  a link to an Internet website or other message   system that maintains current information on each affected area;                (3)  a link to an Internet website or other message   system that describes a symptom of any illness caused by the release   that may require emergency medical treatment;                (4)  the chemicals involved in and toxicity of the   release; and                (5)  instructions for protection from exposure to the   release or for reducing exposure to the release.          (i)  The state emergency response commission shall review   and modify the toxic chemical emergency alert system, as   appropriate, every four years.          SECTION 3.  Not later than March 1, 2027, the state emergency   response commission, as defined by Section 505.004, Health and   Safety Code, shall establish the toxic chemical emergency alert   system as required by Section 505.017, Health and Safety Code, as   amended by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the   last day of the legislative session.