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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a fire department listing by the Texas |
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Forest Service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 614, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. FIRE DEPARTMENT LISTING |
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Sec. 614.151. PURPOSES OF SUBCHAPTER. The purposes of this |
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subchapter are to: |
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(1) develop a complete list of fire departments and |
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firefighting resources within this state; |
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(2) prepare for the prompt and efficient response to a |
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disaster or incident of catastrophic proportions; and |
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(3) provide support to the statewide mutual aid |
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program for fire emergencies as provided by Section 418.110. |
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Sec. 614.152. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Fire department" means an entity that provides |
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fire protection to an area within the state that has 9-1-1 service |
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as determined by the Commission on State Emergency Communications. |
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(2) "Service" means the Texas Forest Service of The |
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Texas A&M University System. |
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(3) "State fire agency" means the: |
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(A) firefighters' pension commissioner; |
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(B) Office of Rural Community Affairs; |
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(C) service; |
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(D) Texas Commission on Fire Protection; |
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(E) Texas Engineering Extension Service of The |
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Texas A&M University System; and |
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(F) Texas State Fire Marshal's Office of the |
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Texas Department of Insurance. |
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(4) "State fire association" means the: |
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(A) State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' |
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Association of Texas; |
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(B) Texas Fire Chiefs Association; |
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(C) Texas Fire Marshals Association; |
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(D) Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency |
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Districts; and |
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(E) Texas State Association of Fire Fighters. |
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Sec. 614.153. ADMINISTRATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT LISTING. |
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The service shall: |
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(1) establish and maintain a listing of fire |
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departments located in this state that is accessible to each state |
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fire agency to assist the agency in carrying out its |
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responsibilities; and |
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(2) prescribe procedures necessary to implement this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 614.154. LISTING REQUIRED. (a) Each fire department |
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in this state must be listed with the service. Each fire department |
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shall provide to the service information described by Section |
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614.155 in a manner prescribed by the service. |
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(b) State fire agencies and state fire associations shall |
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coordinate and cooperate with the service in the development of the |
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listing. |
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Sec. 614.155. LISTING COMPONENTS. The listing must contain |
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for each fire department in this state: |
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(1) the name of the fire department; |
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(2) the physical address of the fire department; |
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(3) the mailing address of the fire department; |
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(4) the number of firefighters and any other personnel |
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affiliated with the fire department whose duties involve responding |
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to an emergency incident; and |
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(5) an itemized list, using National Incident |
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Management System guidelines, of all firefighting equipment used by |
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the fire department for fire protection purposes. |
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Sec. 614.156. RENEWAL OF LISTING. The service shall renew a |
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fire department's listing annually. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Forest Service of The Texas A&M |
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University System shall establish the listing required by |
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Subchapter H, Chapter 614, Government Code, as added by this Act, |
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not later than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |