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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a fuel mitigation pilot grant |
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program for fire departments. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 88, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 88.121 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 88.121. FUEL MITIGATION PILOT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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Texas Forest Service, with the advice of the advisory committee |
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appointed under Section 614.073, Government Code, may: |
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(1) establish and administer a pilot program under |
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this section to provide grants to fire departments to assist with |
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the costs of fuel mitigation; and |
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(2) adopt rules consistent with this section as |
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necessary to implement this section, including rules establishing: |
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(A) reasonable criteria and qualifications for |
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the distribution of grant money under the pilot program; and |
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(B) a procedure for reporting and processing |
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requests for grant money under the pilot program. |
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(b) The Texas Forest Service may solicit and accept gifts, |
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grants, and donations from any public or private source for |
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purposes of this section. |
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(c) If the Texas Forest Service establishes a pilot program |
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under this section, the director shall, not later than December 1, |
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2010, submit a written report to the legislature on the |
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effectiveness of the pilot program in mitigating fuel hazards. |
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(d) Notwithstanding Section 614.075(b), Government Code, |
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money in the rural volunteer fire department insurance fund may |
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also be used for purposes of the pilot program under this section. |
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(e) This section expires September 1, 2011. |
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SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. A |
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provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program, |
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creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental |
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entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the |
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legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the |
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provision. |
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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, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2914 was passed by the House on April |
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15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2914 on May 29, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2914 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 25, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |