bill to stop counties funding fire departments already funded

The text as introduced · 207 words

90R3758 MP-D

By: Holt
H.B. No. 354

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to county funding of volunteer fire departments that

receive money from an emergency services district.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 130.915 to read as follows:

Sec. 130.915. COUNTY FUNDING OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS

RECEIVING MONEY FROM EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICTS. (a) In this

section, "volunteer fire department" means an association that:

(1) operates fire-fighting equipment;

(2) is organized primarily to provide and actively

provides fire-fighting services;

(3) does not pay its members compensation other than

nominal compensation; and

(4) does not distribute any of its income to its

members, officers, or governing body, other than for reimbursement

of expenses.

(b) A county may not provide funding to a volunteer fire

department if the department has received money from an emergency

services district within the preceding county fiscal year.

SECTION 2. Section 130.915, Local Government Code, as added

by this Act, applies only to a contract between a volunteer fire

department and a county entered into on or after the effective date

of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2027.