BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 430

By: VanDeaver

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The chief of a volunteer fire department in a small community had applied for several years to receive fire equipment from the rural volunteer fire department assistance program administered by the Texas A&M Forest Service. The department owned a tanker truck, called a "tender," that was over 40 years old, but their application for property was never approved. Research on this issue showed that the forest service did not consider the age of equipment as a factor in rating applications. The chief was concerned that at some point the tender would spring a leak, which eventually happened in 2022. H.B. 430 seeks to prevent similar problems like this from occurring by providing for the inclusion of the age of a department's equipment as a factor for assistance under the program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 430 amends the Government Code to include the age of the equipment used by a volunteer fire department among the reasonable criteria and qualifications that the director of the Texas A&M Forest Service is required to determine for the distribution of money from the volunteer fire department assistance fund under the rural volunteer fire department assistance program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.