2025S0023-2 01/16/25
By: King H.B. No. 2054
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.