SRC-ARR H.B. 1984 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1984 76R6901 JJT-DBy: Bosse (Madla) Economic Development 5/9/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Emergency communication districts are authorized under Chapter 772, Health and Safety Code, to permit Texas counties to create special districts to collect state-authorized fees on telephone service and provide 9-1-1 emergency communication. Currently, 24 districts provide service to 29 counties. These districts are overseen by independent governing boards that exist only to provide 9-1-1 services, but they are not overseen by the Advisory Commission on State Emergency Communications, which manages the state's 9-1-1 system. H.B. 1984 would authorize the consolidation of emergency communication districts. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1984 authorizes the consolidation of emergency communication districts. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 771.001(3), Health and Safety Code, to redefine "emergency communication district." SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 772, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subchapter F, as follows: SUBCHAPTER F. CONSOLIDATION DISTRICTS Sec. 772.451. CONSOLIDATION PROCEDURE. Authorizes two or more emergency communication districts (district) governed by this chapter to consolidate into a single district as provided by this section. Authorizes the board of managers (board) of each district to call and hold an election in the district's participating jurisdiction to approve the consolidation, if the board of each district to be consolidated finds that the consolidation of the districts would benefit the participating jurisdiction of the district. Requires the election in each district to be held on the same uniform election date provided by Chapter 41, Election Code. Requires each district to pay the election expenses for its participating jurisdictions. Requires the ballot for the election to approve the consolidation to be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition that the district may consolidate with other named districts. Sec. 772.452. CONSOLIDATION PLANNING. Authorizes the board to conduct a planning meeting with the boards of other districts whose voters have approved the consolidation. Requires the meeting to be a public meeting. Requires the boards to devise a consolidation plan to take certain actions. Prohibits a consolidation district from being created until certain actions are taken, if a consolidated district is not created under Section 772.453 before the first anniversary of the date of the election held under Section 772.451. Sec. 772.453. CREATION OF CONSOLIDATION DISTRICT. Requires the combined boards to declare the consolidation district created, when the board of each district has adopted the same consolidation plan. Authorizes the remaining districts to consolidate on the terms of a mutually agreeable consolidation plan, if the board of a district does not agree to a consolidation plan. Sec. 772.454. BOARD OF MANAGERS. Provides that the consolidated district is governed by a board appointed in accordance with the order issued by the temporary board under Subsection (b). Provides that the members of the boards of all the districts consolidated serve as a temporary board until all members of the initial board of managers are appointed and qualify. Provides that the temporary board has all authority necessary to operate and administer the district. Requires the temporary board by order to adjust the membership of the board. Requires the order to be substantially in accordance with the consolidation plan and to specify certain items. Requires the order to be issued under Subsection (b) to preserve as nearly as possible the proportional representation of interest exhibited by the memberships of the boards of the several districts before consolidation. Sec. 772.455. GOVERNANCE OF CONSOLIDATED DISTRICT. Provides that the consolidated district and its board are governed by the provisions of this chapter that governed the most populous of the districts before the consolidation, except as provided by this subchapter. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.