By Burnam                                             H.B. No. 2373
         77R7351 YDB-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to life insurance, disability insurance, and pension
 1-3     benefits provided to volunteer firefighters by volunteer fire
 1-4     departments.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 419, Government Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 419.074 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 419.074.  INSURANCE AND PENSION BENEFITS. (a)  A
 1-9     volunteer fire department shall provide life and disability
1-10     insurance and pension benefits to a volunteer firefighter who
1-11     performs fire-fighting services on behalf of the department. The
1-12     insurance and benefits must be provided at least at the minimum
1-13     level prescribed by the commission.
1-14           (b)  The commission shall prescribe the minimum level of
1-15     insurance and benefits that a department must provide under this
1-16     section.  The commission:
1-17                 (1)  shall establish the minimum level of insurance and
1-18     benefits at a level that recognizes the risks and dangers that
1-19     confront the volunteer firefighter; and
1-20                 (2)  may establish different minimum levels for
1-21     different departments after considering relevant circumstances
1-22     associated with each department.
1-23           (c)  A department shall pay as much of the cost of the
1-24     insurance and benefits as is financially possible for the
 2-1     department.  The commission may examine the financial status of a
 2-2     department and recommend an amount for the department to pay toward
 2-3     the cost of the insurance and benefits.  The department shall pay
 2-4     the recommended amount.
 2-5           (d)  The attorney general or the county attorney of the
 2-6     county in which the majority of the department's service area is
 2-7     located is entitled to injunctive relief to prevent a department
 2-8     from operating if the department violates this section.
 2-9           (e)  The commission shall develop eligibility requirements
2-10     for a volunteer firefighter to participate in the benefits provided
2-11     by a volunteer fire department under this section.
2-12           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.