C.S.H.B. 2237 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2237
By: Kuempel
Law Enforcement
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas law allows a one-time compensation to be paid to the family of a
volunteer fire fighter in the event of his or her death in the line of
duty.  Currently, compensation is available only for the survivors of fire
fighters that serve for volunteer organizations with 20 members or more.
Therefore, many Texas firefighters' families are not offered these
benefits due to the size of their organizations. C.S.H.B. 2237 extends
benefits to the survivors of fire fighters who volunteer for organizations
with 10 or more active members and die in the line of duty. 


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

C.S.H.B. 2237 amends the Government Code to provide that state benefits
extended to the survivors of fire fighters who die in the line of duty
shall apply to members of a volunteer fire fighting unit with not fewer
than 10 active members. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute is a legislative council draft that makes no substantive
changes to the original version of the bill.