By: Hegar S.B. No. 1904

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 419, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 419.0021 to read as follows:

Sec. 419.0021. ADMINISTRATIVE ATTACHMENT. (a) The commission is administratively attached to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall:

(1) provide administrative assistance and services to the commission, including budget planning and purchasing;

(2) accept, deposit, and disburse money made available to the commission; and

(3) direct the commission in performing the commission's duties assigned by this chapter in a manner that reduces certification costs, reduces administrative costs, and increases firefighter access to training, certification, and educational resources;

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than September 1, 2013, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall begin a comprehensive review of the duties of the commission and prepare a report to the Legislature detailing a process of transferring the functions of the commission to the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.

(b) The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service shall form a committee of stakeholders to assist in the development of the report required by Subsection (a).

(c) The report required under Subsection (a) of this section must:

(1) identify the essential personnel of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection;

(2) include a time table for any necessary or advisable movement of the physical location of employees or property;

(3) include an inventory of all equipment and other property under the control of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection; and,

(4) provide for any unspent appropriations of the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

(d) The report required by Subsection (a) shall be delivered to the Legislature no later than September 1, 2014.

SECTION 3. Effective September 1, 2013, the powers and duties of the executive director of the commission shall be assumed by the director of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service - Emergency Services Training Institute.

SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.