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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain duties of the Office of Rural Community Affairs |
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relating to assisting, and providing information regarding, |
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volunteer fire departments in rural areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 487.051, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 487.051. POWERS AND DUTIES. The office shall: |
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(1) develop a rural policy for the state in |
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consultation with local leaders representing all facets of rural |
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community life, academic and industry experts, and state elected |
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and appointed officials with interests in rural communities; |
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(2) work with other state agencies and officials to |
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improve the results and the cost-effectiveness of state programs |
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affecting rural communities through coordination of efforts; |
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(3) develop programs to improve the leadership |
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capacity of rural community leaders; |
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(4) monitor developments that have a substantial |
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effect on rural Texas communities, especially actions of state |
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government, and compile an annual report describing and evaluating |
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the condition of rural communities; |
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(5) administer the federal community development |
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block grant nonentitlement program; |
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(6) administer programs supporting rural health care |
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as provided by this chapter; |
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(7) perform research to determine the most beneficial |
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and cost-effective ways to improve the welfare of rural |
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communities; |
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(8) ensure that the office qualifies as the state's |
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office of rural health for the purpose of receiving grants from the |
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Office of Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of |
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Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. Section 254r; |
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(9) manage the state's Medicare rural hospital |
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flexibility program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395i-4; [and] |
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(10) seek state and federal money available for |
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economic development in rural areas for programs under this |
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chapter; and |
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(11) work with interested persons to assist volunteer |
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fire departments and emergency services districts in rural areas. |
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SECTION 2. Section 487.060, Government Code, as added by |
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Chapter 634, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, 2005, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 487.060. EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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office shall establish a program to provide interested rural |
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communities with: |
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(1) general information about emergency services |
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districts; |
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(2) information and training related to the |
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establishment of an emergency services district; and |
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(3) technical assistance related to the |
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implementation of an emergency services district. |
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(b) The program may: |
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(1) assist fire departments in rural areas with the |
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recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters; |
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(2) provide to fire departments in rural areas |
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information relating to assistance programs offered to rural |
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volunteer firefighters, including the federal Staffing for |
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Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program to help fire |
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departments increase staffing and deployment capabilities; and |
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(3) provide to rural homeowners information relating |
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to the benefits of volunteer fire departments, including a |
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reduction in homeowners insurance risk ratings, lower homeowners |
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insurance rates, and better fire protection. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |