By:  Cook of Colorado (Senate Sponsor - Armbrister)               H.B. No. 2171
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2005; 
April 19, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Business and Commerce; May 5, 2005, reported favorably by the 
following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 5, 2005, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the volunteer fire department self-insurance fund.              
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Sections 5(a) and (c), Article 21.61, Insurance 
Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The volunteer fire department self-insurance fund is an 
account in a depository selected by the board of regents of The 
Texas A&M University System in the manner provided by Section 
51.003, Education Code, for funds subject to the control of 
institutions of higher education under Section 51.002, Education 
Code [the general revenue fund].
	(c)  Money in the fund may be expended [in accordance with 
legislative appropriation] only for:
		(1)  administration of this article, including the 
salaries and expenses of staff for the program and the fund;  or
		(2)  funding self-insurance under the program.                                
	SECTION 2.  The following are validated and confirmed in all 
respects:       
		(1)  the maintenance of the volunteer fire department 
self-insurance fund established under Article 21.61, Insurance 
Code, in a depository as otherwise allowed by law for funds subject 
to the control of The Texas A&M University System or the Texas 
Forest Service; and
		(2)  any act of The Texas A&M University System or the 
Texas Forest Service relating to maintaining those funds in a 
depository described by Subdivision (1) of this section.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.



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