Alabama 2022 2022 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB158 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 02/03/2022

                    1 HB158
2 215589-2
3 By Representative Whitt (N & P)
4 RFD: Limestone County Legislation 
5 First Read: 18-JAN-22 
 
Page 0 1	ENGROSSED
2 
3 
4	A BILL
5	TO BE ENTITLED
6	AN ACT
7 
8	Relating to Limestone County; to authorize
9 communication districts in Limestone County to contract and
10 otherwise cooperate with an emergency communication district
11 or public safety agency in a neighboring state; and to provide
12 for immunity for districts and their officers and employees.
13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
14	Section 1. This act shall apply only to Limestone
15 County.
16	Section 2. (a) The board of commissioners of a
17 communication district established by the Limestone County
18 Commission pursuant to Chapter 98 of Title 11, Section 11-98-1
19 et seq., Code of Alabama 1975, which serves territory lying
20 within Limestone County may do any of the following:
21	(1) Contract or otherwise cooperate with an
22 emergency communication district serving any part of an
23 adjacent county in the State of Tennessee for the provision of
24 emergency communication services, including, but not limited
25 to, dispatch services, or assistance in the provision of
26 emergency communications services within any part of the
27 respective territory or area of service of any communication
Page 1 1 district that is party to the contract or cooperative
2 agreement.
3	(2) Contract or otherwise cooperate with any public
4 safety agency of the State of Tennessee or functional division
5 of a political subdivision of the State of Tennessee which
6 provides fire fighting, rescue, natural or man-made disaster
7 or major emergency response, law enforcement, or ambulance or
8 emergency medical services within any part of a county in
9 Tennessee that is adjacent to Limestone County, for the
10 provision of emergency communications services, including, but
11 not limited to, dispatch services or assistance in the
12 provision of emergency services within any part of the
13 respective territory or areas of service of any communication
14 district, public safety agency, or division of a political
15 subdivision that is party to the contract or cooperative
16 agreement.
17	(b) A communication district contracting or
18 cooperating with an entity pursuant to this section and any
19 officers or employees of the communication district shall be
20 considered as acting in a county governmental capacity for any
21 actions taken pursuant to this act. Any officer or employee of
22 the communication district performing any activity or duty
23 authorized by this section shall be entitled to the same
24 rights, privileges, exceptions, and immunities provided by law
25 for any county governmental activity or duty performed within
26 Limestone County, to the same extent as allowed for their
Page 2 1 other activities or duties authorized by Chapter 98 of Title
2 11, Code of Alabama 1975..
3	(c) This section is cumulative in its nature and
4 shall be in addition to any and all power and authority
5 granted to a communication district, a county, or a
6 municipality under any other law.
7	Section 3. The provisions of this act are severable.
8 If any part of this act is declared invalid or
9 unconstitutional, that declaration shall not affect the part
10 that remains.
11	Section 4. This act shall become effective
12 immediately following its passage and approval by the
13 Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
Page 3 1 
2 
House of Representatives3
Read for the first time and re-4
5 ferred to the House of Representa-
6 tives committee on Limestone County
Legislation........................7 .......18-JAN-22
 8 
Read for the second time and placed9
on the calendar  1 amendment ......10 .......02-FEB-22
 11 
Read for the third time and passed12
as amended.........................13 .......03-FEB-22
Yeas 47, Nays 0, Abstains 4714 
 15
16	Jeff Woodard
17	Clerk
18 
Page 4