SB958 —

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends the Texas statutes.

• 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.

  amended