By Hamric H.B. No. 2649 75R8852 JD-F A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the maximum ad valorem tax rate for certain rural fire 1-3 prevention districts. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 794.018(a), Health and Safety Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 (a) On the granting of a petition, the commissioners court 1-8 shall order an election to confirm the district's creation and 1-9 authorize the levy of a tax not to exceed: 1-10 (1) three cents on each $100 of the taxable value of 1-11 property taxable by the district, if no part of the district is 1-12 located in Harris County; or 1-13 (2) five cents on each $100 of the taxable value of 1-14 property taxable by the district, if any part of the district is 1-15 located in Harris County. 1-16 SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 794, Health and Safety 1-17 Code, is amended by adding Section 794.0181 to read as follows: 1-18 Sec. 794.0181. ELECTION TO INCREASE TAX RATE IN HARRIS 1-19 COUNTY. (a) The board of fire commissioners of a district any 1-20 part of which is located in Harris County and the creation of which 1-21 was confirmed when the maximum tax rate authorized by Section 48-d, 1-22 Article III, Texas Constitution, was less than the rate specified 1-23 by Section 794.018(a)(2), may order an election to increase the 1-24 maximum tax rate of the district to the rate specified by Section 2-1 794.018(a)(2). The proposition on the ballot must set out the 2-2 proposed maximum tax rate to be authorized at the election. 2-3 (b) The board shall give notice of the election as provided 2-4 by Section 4.003, Election Code. The notice shall contain the 2-5 information required by Section 4.004, Election Code. 2-6 (c) The election shall be held on the first uniform election 2-7 date provided by the Election Code after the date of the board's 2-8 order that allows sufficient time to comply with any requirements 2-9 of law. 2-10 (d) If a majority of the votes cast in the election favor 2-11 the increase in the maximum tax rate, the maximum tax rate shall be 2-12 increased to the rate authorized by the election. The increase in 2-13 the maximum tax rate applies only to a tax year for which the board 2-14 of fire commissioners adopts a tax rate after the date of the 2-15 election. A board that adopts a tax rate for a tax year on or 2-16 before the date of the election may not adopt a new tax rate for 2-17 that tax year after the date of the election that would exceed the 2-18 maximum tax rate in effect on the date the tax rate was initially 2-19 adopted for that year. 2-20 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the date on which the 2-21 constitutional amendment proposed by __ J.R. No. __ of the 75th 2-22 Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, takes effect. If that 2-23 amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect. 2-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.