Sec. 88.117. STATEWIDE FIRE CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT. (a) The statewide fire contingency account is established as an account in the general revenue fund.

(b) The governor, the board, and the director may accept gifts and grants, including federal grants, and other federal assistance for deposit into the account. This program will be funded through private gifts, grants, or assistance.

(c) Money in the account may be used only to:

(1) develop and deploy fire overhead management teams;

(2) pay the direct costs of using Texas Forest Service equipment and personnel to support local fire-fighting forces in the suppression of fires during wildfire emergencies or threatened wildfire emergencies;

(3) pay the direct costs of local fire-fighting forces that are mobilized to respond to wildfire emergencies or threatened wildfire emergencies in aid of another fire-fighting force;

(4) pay for any expenses incurred by the Texas Forest Service, or otherwise by the state, when fires are combatted under the South Central Interstate Forest Fire Prevention Compact or with the assistance of the federal forest service; and

(5) pay for any other expenses that the director is required to pay from this account under federal law.

(d) Money in the account may not be used or transferred from the account except for the purposes prescribed by Subsection (c) of this section or as required by Subsection (e) of this section.

(e) Any unobligated amount over $1,000,000 remaining in the account on August 31 of each year shall be transferred into the undedicated portion of the general revenue fund except as prohibited by other law.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 209, Sec. 2, eff. May 19, 1993.