By: Sparks S.B. No. 34               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the preparation, prevention, and mitigation of   wildfires.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 418.004, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subdivision (15) to read as follows:                (15)  "Forest service" means the Texas A&M Forest   Service.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 418, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 418.059 to read as follows:          Sec. 418.059.  STATEWIDE DATABASE OF FIREFIGHTING   EQUIPMENT.  (a)  The forest service shall create and maintain a   comprehensive database that shows in real time the statewide   inventory of firefighting equipment that is available for use in   responding to wildfires.          (b)  The database must:                (1)  include a description of the type of firefighting   equipment each fire department in the state has available for use in   responding to wildfires;                (2)  include contact information for the fire   department that has the equipment;                (3)  be searchable by location and equipment type; and                (4)  be accessible by all fire departments in the state   and allow each fire department to update the information in the   database regarding the equipment the fire department has available.          (c)  The forest service shall assist fire departments who   choose to provide equipment information in updating the database   annually or as soon as practicable after any change in the   availability of the department's firefighting equipment.  The   service shall use an electronic notification system to remind   departments, at least once each calendar year, to provide an update   of their equipment availability.          (d)  In this section, "fire department" includes a volunteer   fire department or an emergency services district.          SECTION 3.  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$40 million].          SECTION 4.  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 5.  Chapter 421, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subchapter G to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL          Sec. 421.121.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                (1)  "Council" means the Texas Interoperability   Council established under this subchapter.                (2)  "Division" means Texas Division of Emergency   Management.                (3)  "Local government" means a municipality, county,   special district or authority, or any other political subdivision   of this state.          Sec. 421.122.  TEXAS INTEROPERABILITY COUNCIL.  (a)  The   Texas Interoperability Council is established to:                (1)  develop and coordinate the planning and   implementation of a statewide strategic plan for governing the   interoperability of emergency communication equipment and   infrastructure in this state.          (b)  The council is composed of the chief of the Texas   Department of Emergency Management and six members appointed as   follows:                (1)  two members appointed by the governor;                (2)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;   and                (3)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house   of representatives.          (c)  Appointed council members serve staggered terms of six   years, with the terms of two members expiring September 1 of each   odd-numbered year.          (d)  A majority of the voting members of the council   constitutes a quorum to transact business.  If a quorum is present,   the council may act on any matter within the council's jurisdiction   by a majority vote.          (e)  The chief of the Texas Department of Emergency   Management serves as the council's presiding officer.          Sec. 421.123.  MEETINGS.  The council shall meet as often as   necessary at the call of the presiding officer to perform the   council's duties.          Sec. 421.124.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW TO   COUNCIL.  (a)  Chapters 551 and 2001 do not apply to the council.          (b)  Information held by the council is excepted from   required public disclosure under Chapter 552.          Sec. 421.125.  STRATEGIC PLAN.  (a)  The council, in   collaboration with any state agency or private entity as the   council determines appropriate, shall develop a statewide   strategic plan by January 1, 2026 to govern the interoperability of   emergency communication equipment and infrastructure in this   state.          (b)  The strategic plan must include:                (1)  a plan for the construction of communication   infrastructure necessary to ensure effective emergency   communications among first responders in this state;                (2)  a plan to ensure that first responders throughout   this state are equipped with emergency communication equipment that   is interoperable with other emergency communication equipment in   this state; and                (4)  a plan to ensure that any new emergency   communication equipment and infrastructure under the plan can be   adapted to or integrated with any existing emergency communication   equipment and infrastructure; and                (5)  recommendations for appropriations and statutory   suggestions to implement the strategic plan.           Sec. 421.131.  RULES.  The division may adopt rules to   administer this subchapter.          SECTION 6.  Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 91.019.  STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND   MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall   construct, operate, and maintain an electrical power line serving a   well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident   to oil and gas development and production in accordance with the   National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection   Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and   Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code.          (b)  If, during an inspection of a well site or surface   facility employed in operations incident to oil and gas development   and production, the commission discovers a condition involving an   electrical power line that does not meet the standards described by   Subsection (a), the commission shall notify the Public Utility   Commission of Texas. To resolve the condition, the commission and   the Public Utility Commission of Texas, in collaboration, shall:                (1)  notify the applicable electric utility providing   electric power to the well site or surface facility of the condition   and require the electric utility to make a determination regarding   whether electric power should be disconnected from the site or   facility;                (2)  request that the state fire marshal or a local   government authority inspect the well site or surface facility and   require the operator to mitigate any dangerous conditions   identified by the state fire marshal or local government authority;   or                (3)  issue notice to the applicable electric utility to   investigate the condition and disconnect electric service, if   necessary.          SECTION 7.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the   house of representatives shall appoint members to the Texas   Interoperability Council, as required by Section 421.122,   Government Code, as added by this Act, in the manner required by   that section, as follows:                (1)  the governor shall appoint two council members to   a term expiring September 1, 2027;                (2)  the lieutenant governor shall appoint two council   members to a term expiring September 1, 2029; and                (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives shall   appoint two council members to a term expiring September 1, 2031.          SECTION 8: Section 91.019, Natural Resources Code, as   amended by this Act, applies to an inspection that occurs on or   after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.