HB 3 — Relating to the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state, including the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council, a grant program administered by the council, and the purchase of certain public safety radio communication systems.

By:AAKingBy:AAKing, H.B.ANo.A3Meyer, ALouderback, BILLMcQueeney, TOH.B.ANo.A3 BEAAAAAMartinez, ENTITLEDet ANal. ACT relating to the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state, including the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council, a grant program administered by the council, and the purchase of certain public safety radio communication systems.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state, including the creation and operation of the Texas Interoperability Council, a grant program administered by the council, and the purchase of certain public safety radio communication systems.

(1)AAdevelop and coordinate the implementation of a statewide strategic plan for governing the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this state, develop and implement, as advisable, emergency alert 89S20017 JCG-D 1 H.B.ANo.A3 systems, and incorporate as necessary communication technologies into the emergency communications network of this state;

(2)AAimplementing an existing emergency alert system that alerts the public of evacuation recommendations or orders related to floods, fires, and other disasters and that has the capability of alerting persons in an affected geographic area through messages sent to those persons’communication devices;

and (2)AAthe recipient adopt standardized procedures for incident command or management.management;

(f)and AAThe(3)AAthe councilrecipient maybe delegatean toalerting aauthority stateunder agency the administrationintegrated ofpublic alert and warning system administered by the grantFederal program.Emergency Management Agency under 6 U.S.C.

Sections 321o and 321o-1.

(f)AAThe council may delegate to a state agency the administration of the grant program.

(3)AAcover the cost of adapting existing emergency H.B.ANo.A3 communication equipment or infrastructure to, or otherwise integrating the equipment or infrastructure with, new emergency communication equipment purchased or infrastructure constructed;

H.B.ANo.A3 (4)AAcover the operational or maintenance cost of the equipment or infrastructure described by Subdivision (1), (2), or (3);

SECTIONSECTIONA2.AASubchapter A2.AASubchapter Z, Chapter 271, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 271.909 to read as follows:

Sec.A271.909.AAGOVERNORSec. APPROVAL OF PURCHASES OF PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED;

A271.909.AAGOVERNOR APPROVAL OF PURCHASES OF PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED;

(a) In this section, "public safety radio communication system" means a radio communication system, including infrastructure, equipment, software, and other similar products as the governor determines necessary, that is used by a governmental entity in public safety operations, such as law enforcement, fire protection, emergency H.B.ANo.A3 medical services, and disaster response and recovery.

(b) AATheAAThis governorsection bydoes rulenot shallapply establishto standards for determining whether the purchase andor use of a public safety radio H.B.ANo.A3 communication system bythat acomplies politicalwith subdivisionthe wouldProject materially25 impairCompliance interoperabilityAssessment amongProgram publicadministered safety radio communication systems used by otherthe governmentalUnited entitiesStates inDepartment the region of theHomeland politicalSecurity. subdivision proposing the purchase.

(c)AAThe governor by rule shall establish standards for determining whether the purchase and use of a public safety radio communication system by a political subdivision would materially impair interoperability among public safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase.

(c)AAA(d)AAA political subdivision may not purchase a public safety radio communication system unless the governor reviews and approves the proposed purchase under this section.

(d)AAIn(e) AAIn the form and manner prescribed by the governor by rule, a political subdivision may request that the governor conduct a review of a proposed purchase of a public safety radio communication system under this section.

(e)AAThe(f) AAThe governor shall conduct a review requested under Subsection (d)(e) and, not later than the 90th day after the date on which the governor received the request, shall in writing:

H.B.ANo.A3 (1)AAapprove the request;

and (C)AAprovide corrective measures by which the H.B.ANo.A3 political subdivision may alter the proposal in order to obtain approval under this section.

(f)(g) AAThe governor shall approve a proposed purchase reviewed under this section only if the proposed purchase and use of the system does not materially impair the interoperability among public safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase, in accordance with the standards established under Subsection (b).(c).

The governor shall deny as provided by Subsection (e)(2)(f)(2) or (3) a proposed purchase reviewed under this section if the proposed purchase and use of the public safety radio communication system materially impairs the interoperability among public safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase.

(g)AAAfter(h)AAAfter a summary denial under Subsection (e)(2),(f)(2), a political subdivision may request the governor to, and if requested the governor shall, specify in writing the deficient standards and provide corrective measures, as described by Subsections (e)(3)(B)(f)(3)(B) and (C).

(h)AAThe(i) AAThe governor shall by rule provide procedures for H.B.ANo.A3 appealing a denial under Subsection (e).(f).

(i)AAThis(j) AAThis section expires January 1, 2027.

Sec.Sec.A271.910.AACOUNCIL APPROVAL OF PURCHASES OF PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED.

A271.910.AACOUNCIL APPROVAL OF PURCHASES OF PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS REQUIRED.

H.B.ANo.A3 (1)AA"Council" means the Texas Interoperability Council established under Subchapter G, Chapter 421, Government Code.

(b)AAThe(b)AAThis councilsection bydoes rulenot shallapply establishto standards for determining whether the purchase andor use of a public safety radio communication system bythat acomplies politicalwith subdivisionthe wouldProject materially25 impairCompliance interoperabilityAssessment amongProgram publicadministered safety radio communication systems used by otherthe governmentalUnited entitiesStates inDepartment the region of theHomeland politicalSecurity. subdivision proposing the purchase.

(c)AAThe council by rule shall establish standards for determining whether the purchase and use of a public safety radio communication system by a political subdivision would materially impair interoperability among public safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase.

(1)AAinclude minimum technical specifications that the H.B.ANo.A3 system must meet;

(c)(d) AAA political subdivision may not purchase a public safety radio communication system unless the council reviews and approves the proposed purchase under this section.

(d)(e)AAIn AAIn the form and manner prescribed by the council by rule, a political subdivision may request that the council conduct a review of a proposed purchase of a public safety radio H.B.ANo.A3 communication system under this section.

(e)(f)AAThe AAThe council shall conduct a review requested under Subsection (d)(e) and, not later than the 90th day after the date on which the council received the request, shall in writing:

(f)AAThe(g) AAThe council shall approve a proposed purchase reviewed under this section only if the proposed purchase and use of the system does not materially impair the interoperability among public H.B.ANo.A3 safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase, in accordance with the standards established under Subsection (b).(c).

The council shall deny as provided by Subsection (e)(2)(f)(2) or (3) a proposed purchase reviewed under this section if the proposed purchase and use of the public safety radio communication system materially impairs the interoperability among public safety radio communication systems used by other governmental entities in the region of the political subdivision proposing the purchase.

(g)(h)AAAfter AAAfter a summary denial under Subsection (e)(2),(f)(2), a political subdivision may request the council to, and if requested H.B.ANo.A3 the council shall, specify in writing the deficient standards and provide corrective measures, as described by Subsections (e)(3)(B)(f)(3)(B) and (C).

(h)AAThe(i)AAThe council shall by rule provide procedures for appealing a denial under Subsection (e).(f).

SECTIONH.B.ANo.A3 A5.AANotSECTIONA5.AANot later than January 1, 2026, the governor shall adopt the rules required by Section 271.909, Local Government Code, as added by this Act.