By: Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 3798
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2013;
May 8, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations; May 16, 2013, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 16, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to expenditures made by emergency services districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 775.073, Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 775.073. EXPENDITURES [METHOD OF PAYMENT]. (a)
Except as otherwise provided by this section, district [District]
funds may be disbursed only by check, draft, order, or other
instrument that:
(1) is signed by at least a majority of the board's
commissioners; or
(2) is signed by the treasurer and countersigned by
the president. [If the treasurer is absent or unavailable, the
assistant treasurer may sign for the treasurer. If the president is
absent or unavailable, the vice president may sign for the
president.]
(b) The board by resolution may allow a district employee
who has executed a bond in an amount equal to the amount required
for the district treasurer to sign an instrument to disburse
district funds. An expenditure of more than $2,000 may not be paid
[from tax money] unless [a sworn itemized account covering] the
expenditure is presented to the board and the board approves the
expenditure.
(c) The board may authorize the disbursement of district
funds transferred by federal reserve wire system. The board by
resolution may authorize wire transfers to accounts in the
district's name or accounts not in the district's name.
(d) Any property, including an interest in property,
purchased or leased using district funds, wholly or partly, must
remain the property of the district, regardless of whether the
property is used by a third party under a contract for services or
otherwise, until:
(1) the property is sold to a third party following the
procedures authorized under Section 263.003, 263.007, or 263.008,
Local Government Code; or
(2) the property is disposed of in accordance with
Subchapter J.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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