| TO: | Honorable Juan Hinojosa, Chair, Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB766 by Hegar (Relating to prohibiting a requirement that a volunteer firefighter obtain a license or certification.), As Introduced |
The provisions of the bill could result in an indeterminate negative revenue impact to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection resulting from an indeterminate number of volunteer fire fighters who opt not to acquire or renew their firefighter certification.
The bill would amend the Government Code to remove the requirement that a volunteer fire fighter must complete the voluntary certification program administered by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP), unless the fire fighter receives pay as a fire fighter.
The bill would amend Chapter 180 of the Local Government Code to provide that a political subdivision may not require a volunteer fire fighter to obtain a license or certification to be a volunteer fire fighter.
According to the analysis by TCFP, volunteer fire fighters currently voluntarily participate in TCFP programs which generate revenue that varies annually depending on participation levels. Currently, there are 3,135 individual certificate holders and TCFP estimates that up to 60 percent of these are volunteer fire fighters. To hold certification with TCFP, individuals must take a certification examination and pay a fee of $85; then submit an application for certification with an additional fee of $85, totaling $160 to initially become certified by TCFP. The individuals then pay a certification renewal fee of $85 annually if they wish to continue to hold certification with the agency.
| Source Agencies: | 411 Commission on Fire Protection
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| LBB Staff: | UP, KKR, SD, TP, JAW
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