86R1723 JCG-D

By: King of Hemphill H.B. No. 319

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of a grant program to assist fire departments and volunteer fire departments with the purchase of certain equipment and machines.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 419, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 419.910 to read as follows:

Sec. 419.910. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The commission shall establish and administer a grant program to provide financial assistance to a fire department or volunteer fire department seeking to purchase fire-fighting equipment or a machine to clean fire-fighting equipment. Any fire department or volunteer fire department in this state may apply for a grant under this section.

(b) A fire department or volunteer fire department receiving a grant under this section must, as soon as practicable after receiving the grant, provide to the commission proof of purchase of fire-fighting equipment or a machine to clean fire-fighting equipment, including the price of each piece of equipment or machine and the number of items purchased.

(c) Not later than December 1 of each year, the commission shall submit a report to the Legislative Budget Board reporting the following information for the preceding state fiscal year:

(1) the name of each fire department and volunteer fire department that applied for a grant under this section;

(2) the amount of money distributed to each department that received a grant under this section; and

(3) the number and a description of items purchased by each department described by Subdivision (2).

(d) The commission may use any revenue available for purposes of this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.