Sec. 88.124. WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN. (a) The Texas Forest Service shall hold public meetings to develop and regularly update a wildfire protection plan. At a minimum, the plan must:

(1) define the Texas Forest Service's role in managing wildfires and supporting local fire department responses, and the manner in which a community may engage the Texas Forest Service on issues related to wildfires;

(2) describe in detail the role of volunteer fire departments in wildfire response, including any role relating to guidelines established by the director under Section 88.123;

(3) describe the expected revenue, expenditures, staffing, and future funding necessary to implement and sustain the plan;

(4) estimate the expected savings resulting from the plan's implementation;

(5) provide performance measures by which the plan's success may be evaluated;

(6) describe the Texas Forest Service's role in conducting prescribed burns and assess statewide efforts to conduct those burns;

(7) identify, analyze, and make recommendations regarding wildfire trends and issues; and

(8) address any other matter determined to be relevant by the director.

(b) The Texas Forest Service shall submit its most recent wildfire protection plan together with the service's legislative appropriations request to:

(1) the lieutenant governor;

(2) the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(3) the appropriate standing legislative committees having jurisdiction over wildfire issues.

Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 52 (S.B. 646), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2011.