By Ellis                                               H.B. No. 309
         77R2113 ATP-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the adoption of a fire code by counties.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 235.001(a), Local Government Code, is
 1-5     amended to read as follows:
 1-6           (a)  The commissioners court of a county [with a population
 1-7     of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to a county with a population
 1-8     of over 250,000] may adopt a fire code and rules necessary to
 1-9     administer and enforce the fire code.
1-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-11     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-12     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-13     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-14     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.