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