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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an online volunteer fire department |
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registry by the Texas 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. ONLINE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REGISTRY |
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Sec. 614.151. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Part-paid fire department" means a fire |
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department operated by its members, some of whom are volunteers and |
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not more than 20 of whom are paid. |
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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) "Volunteer fire department" means a fire |
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department operated by its members, including a part-paid fire |
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department, that is operated on a not-for-profit basis, including a |
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department that is exempt from federal income tax under Section |
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501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an exempt |
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organization in Section 501(c)(3) of that code. |
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Sec. 614.152. ADMINISTRATION OF ONLINE VOLUNTEER FIRE |
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DEPARTMENT REGISTRY. The service shall: |
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(1) establish and maintain an online registry of |
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volunteer fire departments located in this state that is accessible |
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to members of the public; and |
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(2) prescribe procedures necessary to implement this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 614.153. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. (a) Each volunteer |
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fire department in this state shall register with the service by |
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submitting to the service: |
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(1) an application for registration under Section |
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614.154; and |
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(2) the registration fee in the amount set by the |
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service. |
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(b) A volunteer fire department in this state may not engage |
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in firefighting activities involving a regional emergency incident |
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for which the service provides coordination unless the department |
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maintains a current registration with the service under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 614.154. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION. (a) An |
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application for registration must contain: |
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(1) the name of the volunteer fire department; |
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(2) the physical address of the volunteer fire |
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department; |
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(3) the mailing address of the volunteer fire |
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department; |
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(4) the number of volunteer firefighters and any other |
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personnel affiliated with the volunteer fire department; |
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(5) the name, address, and certification status under |
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Section 419.071 of each volunteer firefighter and any other |
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personnel affiliated with the volunteer fire department; and |
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(6) an itemized list of all firefighting equipment |
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used by the volunteer fire department for fire protection purposes. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a volunteer fire |
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department must submit an application online. |
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(c) A volunteer fire department may apply for a waiver of |
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the online registration requirement by submitting a written request |
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to the service for a written registration application. |
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Sec. 614.155. RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION. A volunteer fire |
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department shall renew the department's registration annually by |
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filing a renewal application for registration and paying the |
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registration renewal fee in a manner prescribed by the service. |
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Sec. 614.156. REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION RENEWAL |
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FEES. The service shall set a reasonable registration fee and |
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registration renewal fee in an amount designed to cover the costs of |
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administering this subchapter. |
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Sec. 614.157. PUBLIC INFORMATION. Information submitted |
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to the service in an application for registration or for renewal of |
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registration is public information. |
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SECTION 2. The Texas Forest Service of The Texas A&M |
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University System shall establish the online registry required by |
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Section 614.152, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later |
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than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |