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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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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, shall: |
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(1) administer a pilot program under this section to |
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provide grants to fire departments to assist with the costs of fuel |
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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) Not later than December 1, 2010, the director shall |
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submit a written report to the legislature on the effectiveness of |
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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. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the director of the Texas Forest Service shall adopt |
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rules for the administration of the fuel mitigation pilot grant |
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program as required by Section 88.121, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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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. |