By: Sparks, et al. S.B. No. 868

(In the Senate - Filed January 22, 2025; February 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; April 3, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 15, Nays 0; April 3, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 868 By: Bettencourt

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the allocation of money appropriated to the rural volunteer fire department assistance program.

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

SECTION 1. Section 614.102, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:

(i) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, at least 10 percent of appropriations for a state fiscal year from the fund for the purpose of providing assistance to volunteer fire departments under the program is allocated to departments in areas of the state classified as being at high risk for large wildfires by the service. If the amount of assistance requested by departments described by this subsection in a state fiscal year is less than the amount allocated under this subsection, the remaining amount may be used for other types of requests for assistance.

SECTION 2. Section 614.102(i), Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an appropriation made from the volunteer fire department assistance fund on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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