By: Rosenthal, Orr (Senate Sponsor - Bettencourt) H.B. No. 2730
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Local
Government; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
BettencourtX
SpringerX
EckhardtX
GutierrezX
HallX
NicholsX
ParkerX
PaxtonX
WestX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the adoption and amendment of an annual budget by
certain emergency services districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 775.079 to read as follows:
Sec. 775.079. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF ANNUAL BUDGET IN
CERTAIN DISTRICTS. (a) This section applies only to a district
located wholly in a county with a population of more than three
million.
(b) The board shall prepare and adopt the district's annual
budget in the manner provided by this section.
(c) The board, after notice, shall hold an open meeting to
consider the proposed budget for the following fiscal year.
Adoption of the budget may occur at the same meeting at which the
board takes final action to set the tax rate if the board complies
with Section 775.074(d-1).
(d) At least 72 hours before holding a meeting to adopt a
proposed budget for the following fiscal year, the board shall post
the proposed budget on the district's Internet website in the same
location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted is
posted.
(e) After the board adopts the budget, the board may not
amend the budget except as provided by Subsections (f) and (g).
(f) The board, after notice, may amend the budget after its
initial adoption only at an open meeting. The board shall:
(1) not later than 72 hours before the meeting, post
the proposed amendment on the district's Internet website in the
same location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted
is posted; and
(2) include in the notice of the meeting:
(A) the following statement: "The Board of the
(name of county) Emergency Services District No. (district number)
will consider an amendment to the district's adopted budget. The
public is encouraged to review the proposed amendment to the budget
posted on the district's website and to attend the meeting to offer
comments regarding the proposed amendment. (district Internet
website address)"; and
(B) the following agenda items:
(i) "Public comment on the proposed
amendment to the budget"; and
(ii) "Action to adopt or reject the
proposed amendment to the budget".
(g) After allowing comments from the public regarding the
proposed amendment, the board may amend the budget only if three or
more members of the board vote in favor of adopting the proposed
amendment.
(h) The board shall give notice of a meeting held under this
section in the manner provided by Chapter 551, Government Code, and
this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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