| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program |
|
|
and authorizing an increase in the assessment on certain insurers |
|
|
that fund the program. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 2007.002, Insurance Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 2007.002. ASSESSMENT. The comptroller shall assess |
|
|
against all insurers to which this chapter applies amounts for each |
|
|
state fiscal year necessary, as determined by the commissioner, to |
|
|
collect [a combined total equal to the lesser of: |
|
|
[(1)] the total amount that the General Appropriations |
|
|
Act appropriates from the volunteer fire department assistance fund |
|
|
account in the general revenue fund for that state fiscal year, |
|
|
other than appropriations for contributions to the Texas Emergency |
|
|
Services Retirement System made under Section 614.104(d), |
|
|
Government Code[; or |
|
|
[(2) $30 million]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 614.102, Government Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsections (i) and (j) to read as follows: |
|
|
(i) At least 10 percent of appropriations for a state fiscal |
|
|
year from the fund is allocated for the purpose of providing |
|
|
assistance to volunteer fire departments in areas of the state |
|
|
defined by the service as high risk for large wildfires. |
|
|
(j) If the amount of assistance requested in a state fiscal |
|
|
year by eligible departments described by Subsection (i) is less |
|
|
than the amount allocated under that subsection, the remaining |
|
|
amount may be used for other types of requests for assistance |
|
|
described by this subchapter. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |