| 1 | 1 | | By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 2437 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | relating to the adoption and amendment of an annual budget by |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | certain emergency services districts. |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 775, Health and Safety |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 775.079 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 775.079. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF ANNUAL BUDGET IN |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | CERTAIN DISTRICTS. (a) This section applies only to a district |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | located wholly in a county with a population of more than three |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | million. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (b) The board shall prepare and adopt the district's annual |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | budget in the manner provided by this section. |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (c) The board, after notice, shall hold an open meeting to |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | consider the proposed budget for the following fiscal year. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | Adoption of the budget may occur at the same meeting at which the |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | board takes final action to set the tax rate if the board complies |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | with Section 775.074(d-1). |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (d) At least 72 hours before holding a meeting to adopt a |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | proposed budget for the following fiscal year, the board shall post |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | the proposed budget on the district's Internet website in the same |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted is |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | posted. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (e) After the board adopts the budget, the board may not |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | amend the budget except as provided by Subsections (f) and (g). |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | (f) The board, after notice, may amend the budget after its |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | initial adoption only at an open meeting. The board shall: |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (1) not later than 72 hours before the meeting, post |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | the proposed amendment on the district's Internet website in the |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | same location on the website that a proposed tax rate to be adopted |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | is posted; and |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (2) include in the notice of the meeting: |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (A) the following statement: "The Board of the |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | (name of county) Emergency Services District No. (district number) |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | will consider an amendment to the district's adopted budget. The |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | public is encouraged to review the proposed amendment to the budget |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | posted on the district's website and to attend the meeting to offer |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | comments regarding the proposed amendment. (district Internet |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | website address)"; and |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (B) the following agenda items: |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (i) "Public comment on the proposed |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | amendment to the budget"; and |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | (ii) "Action to adopt or reject the |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | proposed amendment to the budget". |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | (g) After allowing comments from the public regarding the |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | proposed amendment, the board may amend the budget only if three or |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | more members of the board vote in favor of adopting the proposed |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | amendment. |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | (h) The board shall give notice of a meeting held under this |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | section in the manner provided by Chapter 551, Government Code, and |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | this section. |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|