Amend HB 2850 as follows:
      (1)  Insert the following appropriately numbered sections:
      SECTION __. Subchapter C, Chapter 775, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 775.0345 to read as follows:
      Sec. 775.0345.  ELECTION OF BOARD IN DISTRICT LOCATED WHOLLY
IN CERTAIN COUNTIES WITH POPULATION OF 2,800,000 OR MORE. (a)  The
governing body of a district that is located wholly in a county
that has a population of 2,800,000 or more and that includes at
least part of four or more rural fire prevention districts consists
of a five-person board of emergency services commissioners elected
at large as provided by this section.  The emergency services
commissioners serve two-year terms.
      (b)  After a district located wholly in a county that has a
population of 2,800,000 or more and that includes at least part of
four or more rural fire prevention districts is created, an
election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in November of an odd-numbered year to elect the initial emergency
services commissioners.  A candidate in the initial election must
file with the county clerk not later than the 45th day before
election day an application for a place on the ballot.  The county
shall conduct the initial election for the district.  The district
shall reimburse the county for the expenses of the election after
the initial board takes office.
      (c)  The initial emergency services commissioners' terms of
office begin on January 1 of the year following the election.
      (d)  The general election for commissioners shall be held on
the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of
odd-numbered years.  An application for a place on the ballot must
be filed with the secretary of the board not later than the 45th
day before election day.
      (e)  A vacancy in the office of commissioner shall be filled
for the unexpired term by appointment by the remaining
commissioners.
      SECTION __. An election shall be held in each emergency
services district located wholly in a county that has a population
of 2,800,000 or more and that includes at least part of four or
more rural fire prevention districts on November 4, 1997, to elect
the emergency services commissioners for the district. The board of
emergency services commissioners appointed for the district is
abolished, except that the appointed commissioners shall serve
until the elected commissioners take office.  The initial election
replacing the appointed board with an elected board shall be
conducted and the terms of initial commissioners determined in
accordance with the provisions governing an initial election under
Section 775.0345, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act,
except that the initial election is conducted by the district
instead of the county.
      (2)  Renumber sections of the bill appropriately.