BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 2034
By: Hamric
4-26-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

Currently, for an emergency service district, both the president
and the treasurer must sign each check.  There are occasions when
either the president or the treasurer of the district is not able
to attend the meetings and delays in funding for the contracting
volunteer fire departments or ambulance service can occur. 

PURPOSE

In the absence of the president or treasurer, this Act allows the
vice president and assistant treasurer, respectively, to be
signatories for the checks.  In addition, this Act requires board
approval only for expenditures over $2,000.

This legislation tracks the current authorized signatures and
expenditure approvals for Rural Fire Districts that appears in
Chapter 794.073 of the Health and Safety Code.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

     SECTION 1.  Amends Section 775.073 of the Health and Safety
Code.  Subsection (a) allows for the vice president to sign checks
in the absence of the president and the assistant treasurer to
countersign checks in the absence of the treasurer.  

Subsection (b) is amended to require that only expenditures over
$2000 be approved by the board. 

     SECTION 2.  Emergency Clause.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 2034 was considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public
hearing on 4/26/95. The following person testified for HB 2034:
Howard Katz, representing himself and the Harris County ESD 3,5 and
9 and Galveston County ESD 1. HB 2034 was reported favorably with
the recommendation that it do pass and be printed and be sent to
the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by the record vote of
6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.