Bill Text: TX HB2758 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to mandatory emergency alert systems at institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-06-17 - Effective immediately [HB2758 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2758-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2758 |
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relating to mandatory emergency alert systems at institutions of | ||
higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.218 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.218. EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM. (a) In this section, | ||
"institution of higher education" and "private or independent | ||
institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by | ||
Section 61.003. | ||
(b) Each institution of higher education and private or | ||
independent institution of higher education shall establish an | ||
emergency alert system for the institution's students and staff, | ||
including faculty. The emergency alert system must use e-mail or | ||
telephone notifications in addition to any other alert method the | ||
institution considers appropriate to provide timely notification | ||
of emergencies affecting the institution or its students and staff. | ||
(c) At the time a student initially enrolls or registers for | ||
courses or a staff member begins employment, the institution shall: | ||
(1) obtain a personal telephone number or e-mail | ||
address from the student or staff member to be used to notify the | ||
individual in the event of an emergency; and | ||
(2) register the student or staff member in the | ||
institution's emergency alert system. | ||
(d) A student or staff member may elect not to participate | ||
in an emergency alert system established under this section. An | ||
election under this subsection may be submitted electronically or | ||
in writing, as chosen by the institution, and must be renewed at the | ||
start of each academic year. | ||
(e) The personal identifying information obtained from an | ||
individual for the purpose of the emergency alert system of an | ||
institution of higher education, including an e-mail address or | ||
telephone number, is confidential and not subject to disclosure | ||
under Section 552.021, Government Code. | ||
(f) Each institution of higher education and private or | ||
independent institution of higher education shall implement the | ||
emergency alert system required by this section not later than the | ||
spring 2012 semester. This subsection expires June 1, 2012. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2758 was passed by the House on May 3, | ||
2011, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 1 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2758 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
24, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0 | ||
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______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |