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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1461
78R10160 KEG-FBy: Lindsay
Intergovernmental Relations
5/1/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


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.  C.S.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." 

(b)  Authorizes the commissioners court of a county, notwithstanding
Subchapter D, Chapter 263, or other law, to sell used fire-fighting
equipment, excluding equipment described in Government Code, Chapter
419.040 and Chapter 419.041, 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.