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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding emergency service in rural areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY ON EMERGENCY SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS. (a) |
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In this section, "first responder" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 421.095, Government Code. |
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(b) The Commission on State Emergency Communications shall |
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conduct a study to: |
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(1) evaluate access to 9-1-1 communications in rural |
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areas and the ability of first responders to respond to emergencies |
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in rural areas; and |
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(2) provide recommendations for the creation of a |
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program that will maximize the use of federal and state funding for |
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9-1-1 services to ensure rural areas have greater access to 9-1-1 |
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communications and first responders are able to respond more |
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efficiently to emergencies in rural areas. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2012, the Commission on State |
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Emergency Communications shall submit a report containing the |
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findings of the study conducted under Subsection (b) of this |
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section and the commission's recommendations to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. |
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SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 31, 2012. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |