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AN ACT
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relating to the transfer of certain functions related to emergency |
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services districts from the Department of Agriculture to the Texas |
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Division of Emergency Management. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 487.061, Government Code, is transferred |
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to Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, redesignated as |
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Section 418.053, Government Code, and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 418.053 [487.061]. EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT |
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PROGRAM. (a) The division [department] shall serve as a resource |
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to provide interested rural communities with: |
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(1) general information about emergency services |
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districts; and |
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(2) information and training related to the |
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establishment of an emergency services district. |
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(b) The division [department] may: |
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(1) provide to fire departments in rural areas |
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information relating to assistance programs offered to rural |
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volunteer firefighters, including the federal Staffing for |
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Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program to help fire |
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departments increase staffing and deployment capabilities; and |
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(2) provide to rural homeowners information relating |
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to the benefits of volunteer fire departments, including a |
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reduction in homeowners insurance risk ratings, lower homeowners |
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insurance rates, and better fire protection. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 775.083(a), (b), and (c), Health and |
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Safety Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) On or before January 1 of each year, a district shall |
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file with the Texas Division of Emergency Management [Department of
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Rural Affairs] an annual report that includes the following: |
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(1) the district's name; |
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(2) the name of each county in which the district is |
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located; |
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(3) the district's business address; |
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(4) the name, mailing address, and term of office of |
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each commissioner; |
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(5) the name, mailing address, and term of office of |
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the district's general manager, executive director, and fire chief; |
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(6) the name of each legal counsel or other consultant |
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for the district; and |
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(7) the district's annual budget and tax rate for the |
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preceding fiscal year. |
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(b) The Texas Division of Emergency Management [Department
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of Rural Affairs] may not charge a fee for filing the report. |
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(c) The Texas Division of Emergency Management [Department
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of Rural Affairs] shall develop and maintain an Internet-based |
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system that enables: |
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(1) a district to securely file the report and update |
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the district's information; and |
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(2) the public to view, in a searchable format, the |
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reports filed by districts under this section. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2018, the following are |
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transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Texas |
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Division of Emergency Management: |
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(1) the powers, duties, functions, programs, and |
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activities of the Department of Agriculture relating to the duties |
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described by Section 418.053, Government Code, as transferred, |
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redesignated, and amended by this Act; |
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(2) any obligations and contracts of the Department of |
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Agriculture that are directly related to implementing a power, |
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duty, function, program, or activity described by Subdivision (1) |
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of this section; and |
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(3) all property and records in the custody of the |
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Department of Agriculture that are related to a power, duty, |
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function, program, or activity described by Subdivision (1) of this |
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section and all funds appropriated by the legislature for that |
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power, duty, function, program, or activity. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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775.083, Health and Safety Code, applies only to an annual report |
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due on or after January 1, 2019. An annual report due before |
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January 1, 2019, is governed by the law as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1510 was passed by the House on May 4, |
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2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1510 was passed by the Senate on May |
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24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |