SRC-VRA S.B. 1461 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1461
78R7040 KEG-FBy: Lindsay
Intergovernmental Relations
4/3/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law allows county commissioners courts to supply surplus or
salvage property to any incorporated volunteer fire departments with which
they have contracted for fire protection services.  However, the
definition of salvage property is personal property that has "no value"
for the purpose for which it was originally intended and that has caused
problems for some counties. Some heavy equipment maintains its residual
value, even if the equipment is very old and heavily used.  As proposed,
S.B. 1461 allows a county commissioners court to declare fire apparatus
and equipment purchased by the county as surplus or salvage after 15 years
of use and would allow a volunteer fire department to purchase that
equipment for eight percent of its original purchase value. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 352A, Local Government Code, by adding Section
352.006, as follows: 

Sec.  352.006.  SALE OF USED FIRE PROTECTION OR FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT TO
CERTAIN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS.  (a)  Defines "volunteer fire
department" to include a volunteer fire department that employs not more
than two paid staff members. 

(b)  Authorizes the commissioners court of a county, notwithstanding
Chapter 263D, to sell used fire protection and fire-fighting equipment to
a volunteer fire department for eight percent of the original purchase
value of the equipment if certain conditions are met. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.