BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2034
                                               By: Hamric (Ellis)
                                      Intergovernmental Relations
                                                          5-22-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

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

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2034 authorizes an assistant treasurer and vice
president of an emergency services district board to be signatories
for checks disbursed from emergency services funds in the absence
or unavailability of the treasurer or president, respectively;
requires board approval only for expenditures over $2,000.

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, Health and Safety Code, as
follows:

     Sec. 775.073.  METHOD OF PAYMENT.  Authorizes an assistant
     treasurer of the board of the emergency services commissioners
     (board) to sign a check disbursed from emergency services
     district funds if the treasurer is absent or unavailable. 
     Authorizes the vice president of the board to sign a check
     disbursed from emergency services district funds if the
     president is absent or unavailable.
     
     (b)  Prohibits an expenditure of more than $2,000 from being
       paid from tax money unless a sworn itemized account covering
       the expenditure is presented to the board and the board
       approves the expenditure.
       
       SECTION 2.   Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.