87R7596 SMT-D
By: Metcalf H.B. No. 2494
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the election of emergency services commissioners in
certain emergency services districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 775.0345(b-1), (d-1), (e), and (h-1),
Health and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), the governing body of
a district described by Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)] is governed by a
five-member board of emergency services commissioners elected from
single-member districts. One director is elected from each
single-member district. As soon as possible after the district is
created, the commissioners court of the county in which the
district is located shall divide the district into five numbered
single-member districts.
(d-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), to be eligible to be a
candidate for emergency services commissioner in a single-member
district on an initial board in a district described by Subsection
(a)(2) [or (3)], a person must be at least 18 years of age and a
resident of that single-member district.
(e) A candidate for emergency services commissioner on an
initial board must give the voter registrar of the county a sworn
notice of the candidate's intention to run for office. The notice
must state the person's name, age, and address and state that the
person is serving notice of intent to run for emergency services
commissioner. If the person intends to run for emergency services
commissioner in a single-member district in a district described by
Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)], the notice must also specify the
single-member district the person seeks to represent. On receipt
of the notice, the voter registrar of the county shall have the
candidate's name placed on the ballot.
(h-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (h), the five initial
emergency services commissioners elected from single-member
districts in a district described by Subsection (a)(2) [or (3)]
shall draw lots to determine which two commissioners serve terms
that expire on December 31 of the second year following the year in
which the election was held and which three commissioners serve
terms that expire on December 31 of the fourth year following the
year in which the election was held.
SECTION 2. (a) This Act does not prohibit a person who is
serving as an emergency services commissioner on the effective date
of this Act from running for election to the board of commissioners
after the effective date of this Act if the person has the
qualifications required for a member under Section 775.0345, Health
and Safety Code.
(b) The terms of the emergency services commissioners
serving on the effective date of this Act expire on the date a
majority of the new emergency services commissioners elected under
Subsection (c) of this section qualify to serve.
(c) The county judge of a county with an emergency services
district to which Section 775.0345(a)(3), Health and Safety Code,
applies on the effective date of this Act shall establish an
election to elect new emergency services commissioners of that
district in the manner provided by Section 775.0345, Health and
Safety Code, as amended by this Act, for election of the initial
commissioners as if the district had been created on the effective
date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.