HB 815 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0815-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to the Ocean City -Wright Fire Control 2
District, Okaloosa County; amending ch. 99 -478, Laws 3
of Florida, as amended; providing for future 4
annexation of certain unincorporated territory; 5
providing an effective date. 6
7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
9
Section 1. Section 14 is added to section 2 of chapter 99 -10
478, Laws of Florida, as amended by chapter 2001 -315, Laws of 11
Florida, to read: 12
Section 14. Annexation of territories by municipalities. — 13
(1) For the purposes and requirements of this act, after 14
the annexation by a municipality of any unincorporated area 15
within the district, the annexed area shall be t reated as lying 16
within the corporate boundaries of the annexing municipality and 17
shall not be subject to a levy of the ad valorem tax that is 18
authorized by this act. 19
(2) Notwithstanding s. 171.093, Florida Statutes, if a 20
municipality annexes any unincorp orated territory situated 21
within the defined boundaries of the district after the 22
effective date of this act, the district shall continue as the 23
primary provider of fire, rescue, and emergency medical services 24
for the annexed territory. Any municipality th at annexes such 25
HB 815 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0815-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
territory may levy any applicable taxes, assessments, or fees on 26
the annexed territory but must, by May 1 of each subsequent year 27
after such annexation, pay the district for its services in an 28
amount equal to the amount of taxes, assessment s, or fees which 29
would have been collected by the district from the annexed 30
territory during that year had the territory not been annexed, 31
using the millage rate in effect on the effective date of this 32
act, or any lower rate that may be levied by the distr ict. Such 33
payments shall continue 15 years unless the district is relieved 34
of all fire, rescue, or emergency medical service responsibility 35
in the annexed territory, with the exception of an isolated 36
response to a local or areawide disaster, such as a haza rdous 37
material incident, tornado, hurricane, or major fire. If 38
litigation is required to enforce the provisions of this act, 39
the prevailing party shall be entitled to an award of attorney 40
fees and costs. 41
Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 42