| 3 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 7 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 8 | | relating to creating a database of the firefighting equipment in |
|---|
| 10 | 9 | | the state available for use in responding to wildfires. |
|---|
| 11 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 13 | 12 | | adding Subdivision (15) to read as follows: |
|---|
| 14 | 13 | | (15) "Forest service" means the Texas A&M Forest |
|---|
| 15 | 14 | | Service. |
|---|
| 16 | 15 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is |
|---|
| 17 | 16 | | amended by adding Section 418.059 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 18 | 17 | | Sec. 418.059. STATEWIDE DATABASE OF FIREFIGHTING |
|---|
| 19 | 18 | | EQUIPMENT. (a) The forest service shall create and maintain a |
|---|
| 20 | 19 | | comprehensive database that shows in real time the statewide |
|---|
| 21 | 20 | | inventory of firefighting equipment that is available for use in |
|---|
| 22 | 21 | | responding to wildfires. |
|---|
| 23 | 22 | | (b) The database must: |
|---|
| 24 | 23 | | (1) include a description of the type of firefighting |
|---|
| 25 | 24 | | equipment each fire department in the state has available for use in |
|---|
| 26 | 25 | | responding to wildfires; |
|---|
| 27 | 26 | | (2) include contact information for the fire |
|---|
| 28 | 27 | | department that has the equipment; |
|---|
| 29 | 28 | | (3) be searchable by location and equipment type; and |
|---|
| 30 | 29 | | (4) be accessible by all fire departments in the state |
|---|
| 31 | 30 | | and allow each fire department to update the information in the |
|---|
| 32 | 31 | | database regarding the equipment the fire department has available. |
|---|
| 33 | 32 | | (c) The forest service shall assist fire departments who |
|---|
| 34 | 33 | | choose to provide equipment information in updating the database |
|---|
| 35 | 34 | | annually or as soon as practicable after any change in the |
|---|
| 36 | 35 | | availability of the department's firefighting equipment. The |
|---|
| 37 | 36 | | service shall use an electronic notification system to remind |
|---|
| 38 | 37 | | departments, at least once each calendar year, to update their |
|---|
| 39 | 38 | | equipment availability. |
|---|
| 40 | 39 | | (d) In this section, "fire department" includes a volunteer |
|---|
| 41 | 40 | | fire department or an emergency services district. |
|---|
| 42 | 41 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|