88R3031 ANG-F
By: Ashby H.B. No. 4609
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas A&M Forest Service of the potential
effects of wildfires in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Fuel loading" means the amount of combustible
material in a defined space expressed quantitatively in terms of
weight of fuel per unit area.
(2) "Service" means the Texas A&M Forest Service.
SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The service shall conduct a study to
determine the status and condition of fuel loading in wildfire risk
zones in this state and the corresponding risk of wildfire to the
residents, homes, businesses, and ecology of this state.
(b) In conducting the study, the service shall:
(1) establish wildfire risk zones based on fuel
loading and the risk of wildfire to the residents, homes,
businesses, and ecology of this state within geographic areas
defined by the service; and
(2) solicit and consider information from:
(A) the Department of Public Safety;
(B) the Department of Agriculture, including the
Prescribed Burning Board;
(C) the Texas Division of Emergency Management;
(D) the Parks and Wildlife Department;
(E) the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality;
(F) the State Soil and Water Conservation Board;
(G) the comptroller of public accounts; and
(H) other natural resource representatives as
necessary.
(c) The study must:
(1) for each wildfire risk zone established under
Subsection (b)(1) of this section, consider:
(A) the risk that fuel loading poses;
(B) the projected loss of life, property, and
natural resources should a wildfire occur in the zone;
(C) the financial impact of costs associated
with:
(i) reconstruction in the zone after a
wildfire;
(ii) potential loss of production in the
natural resource and agricultural industries in the zone after a
wildfire; and
(iii) fuel loading mitigation and asset
hardening in the zone; and
(D) whether the money invested in fuel loading
mitigation in the zone exceeds or is less than the value of property
protected by the investment and the amount of the excess or
shortage;
(2) assess the overall economic benefits to this state
of:
(A) prescribed burning;
(B) fuel loading control for wildfire
prevention; and
(C) public investment in fuel loading reduction
projects; and
(3) recommend changes to existing law to ensure that
public and private natural resource managers have the authority and
ability to appropriately mitigate fuel loading risks in each
established risk zone.
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2024, the
service shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing
committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over the
service or another state agency from which information is solicited
under this Act a written report that includes a summary of the study
and any legislative recommendations based on the study.
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires May 1, 2025.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2023.