Honorable Charles Perry, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB289 by Estes (Relating to the licensure or certification of volunteer firefighters and members of industrial emergency response teams.), 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 part-time fire protection employees who opt not to acquire or renew their firefighter certifications.
The bill would amend the Government Code to prohibit a state agency from requiring the licensing or certification of an individual as a condition of being a volunteer firefighter, or requiring a member of an industrial emergency response team to obtain a license or certification as a condition of being a member of such a team. The bill would define a "volunteer firefighter" as a member of a volunteer fire department who is not a full-time paid employee.
The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) estimates it regulates approximately 2,200individuals classified as part-time fire protection employees. To hold certification with TCFP, these part-time individuals must take a certification examination and pay a fee of $85, and then submit an application for certification with an additional fee of $85, totaling $170 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.
Presumably, removal of regulatory authority over these individuals could have a negative impact on revenue generated by the agency, to the degree the part-time fire protection employees noted above who participate in the programs offered by the agency opt not to participate. This fiscal note assumes the number of those volunteers opting not to acquire or renew a license or certification from TCFP is indeterminate.
The bill would take effect immediately upon a two-thirds vote of all members in both chambers; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
411 Commission on Fire Protection, 454 Department of Insurance