By: Miller of Comal H.B. No. 2249
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation, powers and duties, and administration of
emergency response districts; providing authority to impose taxes
and issue bonds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. CREATION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE DISTRICT.
(a)
After receiving a petition that is signed by qualified voters in a
county owning taxable real property in the county and that requests
the creation of an emergency response district, or on its own
initiative, the commissioners court shall hold a public hearing on
the issue.
(b) If the commissioners court determines after the hearing
that the issue of creation of an emergency response district should
be submitted to the voters, the court shall determine proposed
boundaries for the district, set a proposed maximum rate of ad
valorem tax for real property in the district, and call an election
on the issue.
(c) If a majority of the qualified voters voting at the
election approve the proposition to create the emergency response
district, the district is created.
SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF DISTRICT. If an emergency
response district is created as provided by Section 1 of this Act,
the commissioners court shall appoint a board of commissioners to
administer the district. A member of the board appointed under this
section serves a two-year term and is subject to removal at the will
of the commissioners court.
SECTION 3. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The board of
commissioners of an emergency response district has the duty of
providing services relating to:
(1) fire prevention and suppression;
(2) emergency medical services;
(3) rescue of persons on district waterways;
(4) enforcement of a district fire code; and
(5) regulation of hazardous materials.
SECTION 4. IMPOSITION OF TAX; ISSUANCE OF BONDS. An
emergency response district has the power to impose an ad valorem
tax on real property in the district at a rate not to exceed the rate
approved at the election at which the district was created. The
district may issue bonds in amounts necessary to repay indebtedness
created by use of tax revenues.
SECTION 5. CONVERSION OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT. On
creation of an emergency response district under this Act, any
portion of an emergency services district that is included within
the boundaries of the emergency response district becomes part of
the emergency response district and ceases to exist as a separate
entity.
SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect January 1,
2016, but only if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 84th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, authorizing the creation of
emergency response districts, is approved by the voters. If that
amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.