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By: McReynolds, Gonzalez Toureilles, Guillen |
H.B. No. 2914 |
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(Senate Sponsor - Nichols) |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2009; |
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April 27, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on |
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Agriculture and Rural Affairs; May 19, 2009, reported favorably by |
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the following vote: Yeas 3, Nays 0; May 19, 2009, sent to |
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printer.) |
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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, 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 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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* * * * * |