bill making volunteer fire departments report county money use

The text as introduced · 281 words

90R3745 MP-D

By: Holt
H.B. No. 425

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to reporting requirements for volunteer fire departments

that receive funding from a county.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 352, Local Government

Code, is amended by adding Section 352.007 to read as follows:

Sec. 352.007. VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTING TO

COUNTY. (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 volunteer fire department that receives money from a

county shall provide a written report to the commissioners court of

the county on how the department used the money. The department

must provide the report to the commissioners court not later than

each anniversary of the date the money was received from the county

until the money is fully spent.

(c) A county that receives a report under this section shall

publish the report on the county's Internet website.

SECTION 2. Section 352.007, Local Government Code, as added

by this Act, applies only to money received on or after the

effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. 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, 2027.