Menéndez Bill Puts State Emergency Alerts In Spanish Too

The text as introduced · 779 words

90R2910 KRM-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 126

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a requirement for certain alert messages to be provided

in English, Spanish, and each language spoken by at least 10 percent

of state residents.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 411.306, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.306. CONTENT OF POWER OUTAGE ALERT. The power

outage alert must be in English, Spanish, and each language spoken

by at least 10 percent of the residents of this state as determined

by the most recent federal decennial census and include a statement

that electricity customers may experience a power outage.

SECTION 2. Section 411.352, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.352. STATEWIDE AMERICA'S MISSING: BROADCAST

EMERGENCY RESPONSE (AMBER) ALERT SYSTEM FOR ABDUCTED CHILDREN AND

MISSING PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. 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 a statewide

alert system to be activated on behalf of an abducted child or a

missing person with an intellectual disability. The department

shall require the information provided through the alert system,

including information sent through text messages or displayed on

dynamic message signs, to be in English, Spanish, and each language

spoken by at least 10 percent of the residents of this state as

determined by the most recent federal decennial census.

SECTION 3. Section 411.372, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

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. The department shall require the information

provided through the alert system, including information sent

through text messages or displayed on dynamic message signs, to be

in English, Spanish, and each language spoken by at least 10 percent

of the residents of this state as determined by the most recent

federal decennial census.

SECTION 4. Section 411.388, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.388. CONTENT OF SILVER ALERT. The alert must be

in English, Spanish, and each language spoken by at least 10 percent

of the residents of this state as determined by the most recent

federal decennial census and include:

(1) all appropriate information that is provided by

the local law enforcement agency and that may lead to the safe

recovery of the missing senior citizen or person with Alzheimer's

disease; and

(2) a statement instructing any person with

information related to the missing senior citizen or person with

Alzheimer's disease to contact a local law enforcement agency.

SECTION 5. Section 411.448, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.448. CONTENT OF ALERT. The alert must be in

English, Spanish, and each language spoken by at least 10 percent of

the residents of this state as determined by the most recent federal

decennial census and include:

(1) all appropriate information that is provided by

the law enforcement agency under Section 411.446 and that may lead

to the apprehension of the missing suspect; and

(2) a statement instructing any person with

information related to the missing suspect to contact a law

enforcement agency.

SECTION 6. Section 411.468, Government Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 411.468. CONTENT OF ALERT. The alert must be in

English, Spanish, and each language spoken by at least 10 percent of

the residents of this state as determined by the most recent federal

decennial census and include:

(1) all appropriate information that may lead to the

safe recovery of the missing adult, as determined by the

department; and

(2) a statement instructing any person with

information related to the missing adult to contact a local or state

law enforcement agency.

SECTION 7. Section 418.047, Government Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows:

(a-2) The division shall coordinate with the department and

any federal agency, state agency, or local government as necessary

to issue severe weather advisories in English, Spanish, and each

language spoken by at least 10 percent of the residents of this

state as determined by the most recent federal decennial census.

SECTION 8. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas

and the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall adopt rules to

implement the changes in law made by this Act.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.