| TO: | Honorable Craig Estes, Chair, Senate Committee on S/C on Ag., Rural Affairs & Coastal Resources |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB1440 by Hegar (Relating to certain duties of the Office of Rural Community Affairs relating to assisting, and providing information regarding, volunteer fire departments in rural areas.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend Government Code to require the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) to work with interested persons to assist volunteer fire departments and emergency services districts in rural areas. The bill would provide ORCA the authority to assist fire departments in rural areas with the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters; provide information relating to assistance programs offered to rural volunteer firefighters; and provide information relating to the benefits of volunteer fire departments to rural homeowners.
Based on information provided by ORCA, it is assumed that costs related to the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be covered by utilizing existing resources.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2007.
| Source Agencies: | 357 Office of Rural Community Affairs
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| LBB Staff: | JOB, WK, AH
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