Texas House Passes Active Shooter Alert Bill

The Texas House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create an Active Shooter Alert System for the state.

House Bill 103 passed by a vote of 146-0. The bill’s author, State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (Odessa), said the bill aims to save lives and prevent mass violence while protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding Texans.

The measure would require the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to develop and implement the Active Shooter Alert System. The alerts are intended to be issued quickly via SMS text and other available communications in the event of a mass active shooting situation to individuals near the location of the shooting.

Landgraf crafted HB103, the Leilah Hernandez Act, after working with families of victims from the August 31, 2019, mass shooting in the Odessa/Midland area.

“In the aftermath of the mass shooting, I received countless calls and messages from constituents with ideas on how to save lives and prevent mass violence by establishing an active shooter alert system in Texas. That’s exactly what HB 103 sets out to do,” Landgraf said in a House Media release.

Leilah Hernandez, a 15-year-old Odessa High School student, was the youngest victim killed that tragic day in Odessa and Midland. Her mother and uncle provided committee testimony about their experience and how they believe an alert system would have saved Leilah’s life.

“Today is about remembering those we have lost and fighting to prevent other Texas families from enduring the pain that Leilah’s family has to go through,” Landgraf said after the bill was passed. “I want to honor her family’s courage and her memory, along with the memory of everyone we lost, by passing this needed legislation into law.”

Source: Texas House of Representatives

Topics Texas