Fort Bend County HS&EMFort Bend County HS&EM

Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

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Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

Texas Annual Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday

 

The Texas Comptroller announced the annual sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies in a post on their website at http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1017.php (highlight the complete URL and click to go to the web page). The sales tax free holiday will be April 27-29, 2019.

You can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free during the 2019 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to issue an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.

This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 29.

These emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price:

  • Less than $3000
    • Portable generators
  • Less than $300
    • Emergency ladders
    • Hurricane shutters
  • Less than $75
    • Axes
    • Batteries, single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
    • Can openers – nonelectric
    • Carbon monoxide detectors
    • Coolers and ice chests for food storage – nonelectric
    • Fire extinguishers
    • First aid kits
    • Fuel containers
    • Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
    • Hatchets
    • Ice products – reusable and artificial
    • Light sources – portable self-powered (including battery operated)
      • Examples of items include: candles, flashlights and lanterns
    • Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
    • Radios – portable self-powered (including battery operated) – includes two-way and weather band radios
    • Smoke detectors
    • Tarps and other plastic sheeting

These supplies do not qualify for tax exemption:

  • Batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles
  • Camping stoves
  • Camping supplies
  • Chainsaws
  • Plywood
  • Extension ladders
  • Stepladders
  • Tents
  • Repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies
  • Services performed on, or related to, emergency preparation supplies

Additional Charges Affect Purchase Price

Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. If the emergency preparation supply being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. Consider these charges when determining whether an emergency preparation supply can be purchased tax free during the holiday.

For example, you purchase a rescue ladder for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, for a total sales price of $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.

For more information, contact us (Texas Comptroller) at Tax Help, or call 1-800-252-5555.

FBC LEPC Meeting Agenda, April 18, 2019

The Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee will assemble for the current month’s meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. in the Media Room, Homeland Security & Emergency Management office, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas  77469.  Facility representatives and the public are invited to attend. There is no cost associated with attending the meeting.  The agenda for the meeting is available at this link:

FBCLEPC-Agenda20190418-draft

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

   FBC LEPC

 

Fort Bend County LEPC March 2019 Meeting Cancelled

The Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee monthly meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. at the Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management office in Richmond, Texas, was cancelled due to a lack of a quorum. All official business indicated in the agenda for that meeting will be taken up at the next scheduled business meeting on April 18, 2019, in the Media Room. A new agenda will be posted on this website before that meeting. Please plan to attend.

The draft minutes for the February 2019 meeting are attached for review as well as online and will be discussed and voted on for approval at the April 2019 meeting.

FBCLEPC-Minutes20190221-draft

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer, FBCLEPC

 

 

Fort Bend County LEPC Agenda for February 21, 2018 Meeting

Good evening, LEPC members. I apologize for the lateness of this note. Attached to this email is the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting in the FBC HS&EM Media Room at 2:30 p.m. at 307 Fort St,. Richmond, TX. Note the new title for the emergency management office. In a recent change, the organization became the FBC Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, with a new logo (visible at the FBC HS&EM website (same URL)) but the same building and offices and most of the same staff.

Click on the link below for the agenda which should have downloaded to your Download folder on arrival.

FBCLEPC-Agenda20190221

Looking forward to seeing everyone and perhaps some new faces at tomorrow’s meeting.

 

Bob Gaffney

FBC LEPC Secretary/Treasurer

Pasadena LEPC to Host PER-212 HazMat Training Course

Good afternoon, FBC LEPC members. This note is for the hazmateers among our august group. Denise Lee sent the attachment earlier this month but I didn’t open it and see the content until a few days ago.  If you’re interested, contact Sydney Kennedy, LaPorte LEPC Coordinator at laportelepc@gmail.com or his office number at 281-470-0030.  There’s also contact information for Kent Gardner, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, at the bottom of the second page of the attachment.

 

Good luck!  See you at the meeting on Thursday.

 

PER-212 Training Flyer

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary Treasurer FBCLEPC

FBC LEPC February 2019 Meeting-Update

The February 2019 meeting of the Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee will be held Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., in the Media Room, FBC Office of Emergency Management, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas.

Here’s the thing:  I managed to post the wrong file from the library, which I hope did not cause any confusion. The mislabeled file in the previous email regarding minutes was the approved minutes from the November 2018 meeting. The intended file is now attached and will be downloaded to your Download folder when you click on the link below.  They are the draft minutes from last month’s meeting and are posted on the website and can be viewed at the following link:

FBCLEPC-Minutes20190117-draft

Please review the minutes for errors or omissions as they can be edited before the document is finalized and reposted to the website after the meeting.  You don’t need to remind me that the wrong file was posted earlier. I’m well aware of it now that Alan Spears has brought the mistake to my attention. Moving on.

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

  FBCLEPC

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